Welsh local election
The sixth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1904.[1] It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election.
Overview of the result
The Liberals retained a strong majority with a majority of members returned unopposed.[2] From the outset the election was dominated by the debate over the implementation of the 1902 Education Act, which was fiercely opposed by the radical wing of the Welsh Liberal Party.
Candidates
The election was fought on more explicitly political lines, largely as a result of the way the education question dominated the election. Following the nominations, the Liberals already had a majority due to the number of candidates returned unopposed.[3] These included all eight candidates in the Llanelli Urban area, including Joseph Roberts, who was returned unopposed, with the support of the local Trades and Labour Council, for the division previously represented by the veteran tinplate leader, Tom Phillips, who retired due to ill health.[3][n 1]
Two sitting members, Col. J.W. Gwynne Hughes of Tregib, chairman of the council and his kinsman, Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy, stood as Unionists due to the education question.
Only six of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. None of the retiring aldermen stood as candidates.
Outcome
There were a number of changes. At Laugharne, J.D. Morse, the member since 1889, was defeated by a Conservative while the Liberals captured seats from the Conservatives at Carmarthen, Llandovery and St Clears. Colonel Gwynne Huighes of Glancothy was defeated by a Liberal at Llanegwad.
The Liberals took all nine of the vacant aldermanic seats, with both J.S. Tregoining and Sir James Hills-Johnes receiving small numbers of votes.
Abergwili
Abergwili 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Lloyd* | 296 | | |
| Conservative | H.W. Pryse | 125 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Bettws
Bettws 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | William Nathaniel Jones* | 527 | | |
| Liberal | Tom Jones | 505 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Caio
Caio 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | T. Francis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | T.E. Brigstocke* | 268 | | |
| Liberal | H.W. Thomas | 207 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* | 255 | | |
| Conservative | D. Davies | 135 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Lewis | 162 | | |
| Conservative | James John* | 159 | | |
Majority | 3 | | |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Professor D.E. Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Cenarth
Cenarth 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | James Rees* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Conwil
Conwil 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Laugharne
Laugharne 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Unionist | Richard Evans | 185 | | |
| Liberal | John D. Morse* | 152 | | |
Majority | 33 | | |
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Henry Jones-Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanboidy
David Thomas had been elected as a Conservative in 1901.
Llanboidy 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llandebie
Llandebie 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llandilo Rural
William Jones had been elected as an Independent at previous elections.
Llandilo Rural 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | William Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Llandilo Urban
Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal.
Llandilo Urban 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Unionist | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
Llandovery
Llandovery 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J.R. James | 193 | | |
| Conservative | Walter Powell Jeffreys* | 105 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Llanedy
Llanedy 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Ll. Thomas* | 280 | | |
| Conservative | R.H. Sampson | 210 | | |
Majority | 70 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanegwad
Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal and failed to defend the seat as an Unionist.
Llanegwad 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | D.J. Harries | 257 | | |
| Unionist | Col. W. Gwynne Hughes* | 210 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division.1
Llanelly Division.1 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Unionist | W. Griffiths | unopposed | | |
| Unionist hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 2 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | W. Williams | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division.3 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | William David* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev Thomas Johns* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal hold |
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 5 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | D.C. Parry* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 6 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Joseph Roberts | Unopposed |
Majority | | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 7 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 8 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Rural, Berwick
Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | D. Harry | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | David John* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev B. Humphreys | 293 | | |
| Liberal | Rev John Evans | 129 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Earl Cawdor* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Conservative hold |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Thomas Barrett* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llangadock
Llangadock 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | William Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llangeler
Llangeler 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Colonel W.P. Lewes* | unopposed | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | William Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llangennech
Llangennech 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | T. Thomas | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | C.E. Morris* | 182 | | |
| Conservative | David Evan Stephens | 160 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanon
Llanon 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Morgan Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanstephan 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Johns* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Llanybyther
Williams was one of two Liberal candidates in 1901 when both polled the same number of votes and Williams lost on the toss of a coin.
Llanybyther 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Thomas | 266 | | |
| Conservative | David Williams | 234 | | |
Majority | 32 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Mothvey
Mothvey 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Pembrey North
Pembrey North 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev J.H. Rees* | 272 | | |
| Liberal | Dr J.H. Williams | 174 | | |
| Unionist | Rev W.G. Williams | 129 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Pembrey South
This ward was not recorded in the local press.
Pembrey South 1901 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Thomas F. Wilkins | 391 | | |
| | John G. Thomas | 148 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | W.J. Williams | 296 | | |
| Liberal | Gwilym Vaughan | 289 | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Benjamin Evans* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
St Clears
Dr Thomas had sat as a Conservative but was said to have fought this election as a 'radical'.
St Clears 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Lewis | 253 | | |
| Liberal | Dr R.L. Thomas* | 182 | | |
| Independent | Capt. D.J. Powell | 28 | | |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
St Ishmael
St Ishmael 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Trelech
Trelech 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | W. Thomas | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Whitland
Whitland 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Scourfield* | unopposed | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Election of aldermen
In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
- John Williams, retiring alderman (47)
- John Lewis, retiring alderman (45)
- D.L. Jones, retiring alderman (42)
- R.W. Stephens, retiring alderman (48)
- John Rees, retiring alderman (42)
- Rev William Davies, retiring alderman (42)
In addition, two new aldermen were elected:
- W.N. Jones, elected member for Betws (46)
- Thomas Jones, elected member for Llanelli Ward 7 (42)
- Rev Thomas Johns, elected member for Llanelli Ward 4 (42
Four retiring aldermen were not re-elected:
- J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative
- Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal
- David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal
- James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative
All the elected aldermen were supported by the majority of members.[4]
By-elections between 1904 and 1907
Betws by-election 1904
A by-election was held on 23 April due to the elevation of W.N. Jones to the aldermanic bench. The Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, consented to stand after two public meetings at Ammanford and in Cwmamman and was expected to be returned unopposed. However, he was opposed by David John Jones, an Ammanford ironmonger and a prominent Congregationalist, who refused to withdraw. After a contest between two Liberals which involved the local MP, Abel Thomas, Towyn Jones was elected by a relatively comfortable majority.[5]
Betws by-election 1904 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Towyn Jones | 611 | | |
| Liberal | David John Jones | 416 | | |
Majority | 195 | | |
Turnout | | | |
| Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Notes
- ^ Joseph Roberts was the nominee of the Trades and Labour Council and was described in some sources as a Labour candidate.
References
- ^ "Carmarthenshire County Council Elections. Sweeping Victory for the National Policy". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 11 March 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ "County Council Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 4 March 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ a b "The Pending Fight (editorial)". Llanelly Mercury. 3 March 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Carmarthenshire County Council. Statutory Meeting". Carmarthen Journal. 18 March 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Amman Valley Bye-Election. Return of the Rev. Towyn Jones". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter (supplement). 29 April 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
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