1934 Carmarthenshire County Council election explained

Election Name:1934 Carmarthenshire County Council election
Country:Wales
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Majority Seats:27
Seats1:0/53
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats2:0/53
Party3:Labour Party (UK)
Seats3:0/53
Party4:Independent
Seats4:1/51
Party5:Liberal Unionist
Seats5:0/51
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1934. It was preceded by the 1931 election and followed by the 1937 election.

Overview of the result

The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council, with Labour polling strongly in the industrial south and east of the county. In the Llanelli area, Communist Party candidates contested a number of seats but polled a low vote in all cases.

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

Candidates

Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. Labour fielded 30 candidates, more than ever before; eleven of whom were returned unopposed.[1] A greater number of contests took place in 1934 in Carmarthenshire than at any time since the First World War. This was as a result of more contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates.

Outcome

There were very few changes as a result of the election. The most striking result was the defeat of the Council chairman, David Harry, in the Berwick ward. The Llanelly Star considered this 'a shabby return' after over twenty years' service.[2] However, the result confirmed a pattern of increasing Labour dominance in the industrial part of the county, and Harry had previously been defeated in 1928 before regaining the seat in 1931.

In Llanelli town, the late withdrawal of W.T. Morris led to the unopposed return of Tom Charles for Labour. Charles had been narrowly defeated by Morris at several previous elections. In Ward Two, Percy Evans, returned at a by-election in 1931 following a split Indepednent vote, but now standing for the ILP, was defeated.

Ward results

Whitland

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 53 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. There had been suggestions in the past that aldermen should face the elctorate before being re-appointed but when this was suggested by Edgar Lewis (Lab, Llanarthey) at the statutory meeting the suggestion was greeted with laughter.[3] The following nine aldermen were re-elected.

Western Area

Eastern Area

Notes and References

  1. News: County Council Elections. Nominations for Carmarthenshire. . 12 August 2024 . Welshman . 2 March 1934 . 1.
  2. News: The Election Results (editorial). . 21 November 2024 . Llanelly Star . 10 March 1934 . 5.
  3. News: Carmarthenshire County Council. New Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Retiring Aldermen Re-Elected. . 2 September 2024 . Welshman . 23 March 1934 . 1.