1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election
An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election. Due to the Second World War no elections were held in 1940 and 1943 therefore the 1937 election was followed by the 1946 election.
Overview of the result
As in all previous inter-war elections, the Independent group won a majority of the seats and this majority was bolstered by holding the majority of the aldermanic seats also. By 1937 the Labour Party held almost all the seats in the industrial eastern part of the county.
Boundary changes
There were a number of boundary changes at this election. In Carmarthen town the boundaries were redrawn, reducing the number of wards from four to three. In Llanelli, in contrast, the number of wards were increased from eight to nine following a similar process. An additional ward was also created in Ammanford and new wards at Pontyberem and Trimsaran.
Other wards were renamed or had their boundaries slightly altered.
Unopposed returns
Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas.
Contested elections
A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates.
Summary of results
53 councillors were elected.
Ward results
Abergwili
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Ammanford No.1
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | John Harries | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Ammanford No.2
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Frank Davies* | 708 | |||
| Independent | David Jones | 487 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Burry Port
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W.D. Jenkins | 993 | |||
| Independent | F.J. Morgan | 672 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Caio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Davies | 438 | |||
| Independent | Isaac Williams* | 297 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Division 1
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Carmarthen Division 2
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Carmarthen Division 3
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Cenarth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cilycwm
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conwil
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | J.J. Evans* | 523 | |||
| Independent | J.W.L. Harries | 222 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cwmamman
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Phillips* | 1,068 | |||
| Independent | D.M. Richards | 735 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Kidwelly
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J. Amos Jones | 708 | |||
| Independent | H.J. Owen | 378 | |||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Laugharne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | S.B. Williams* | 612 | |||
| Labour | Owen Williams | 197 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanarthney
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanboidy
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Salmon* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandebie North
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David O. Davies | 702 | |||
| Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | 666 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Llandebie South
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.B. Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Rural
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Evan Davies* | 708 | |||
| Independent | J.W. Nicholas | 660 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Urban
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandovery
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | 586 | |||
| Labour | James James | 220 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandyssilio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Henry Morris* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanedy
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanegwad
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Griffith Evans* | 576 | |||
| Independent | Wynne Davies | 265 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division.1
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 1,141 | |||
| Ind. Labour Party | J.G. Davies | 465 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 2
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W.T. Griffiths | 565 | |||
| Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 486 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 3
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | James Jones | 400 | |||
| Labour | C.R. Rees | 309 | |||
| Independent | D. Haddon Jones* | 252 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 4
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Martin L. Edwards | 598 | |||
| Labour | D.J. Charles | 512 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 5
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 666 | |||
| Communist | E.F. Seaward | 25 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 6
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 7
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 8
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 857 | |||
| Communist | Brin James | 212 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 9
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,077 | |||
| Labour | R.S. Beynon | 191 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.J. Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | 612 | |||
| Independent | E.J. Lewis | 298 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangadock
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.T. Morgan | 536 | |||
| Independent | R.E. Williams* | 493 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangeler
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | R.G. Owen* | 851 | |||
| Independent | Thomas Jones | 431 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangendeirne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangennech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.J. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llangunnor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Edwards* | 528 | |||
| Independent | J.J. Bowen | 384 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llansawel
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Morgan | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanstephan
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanybyther
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies | 585 | |||
| Independent | W. James Williams* | 529 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Myddfai
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.R. Clement* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Pembrey
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Stepney | 799 | |||
| Labour | J.J. Davies | 586 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Pontyberem
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David John Jones | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Quarter Bach
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Watkin Davies | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Rhydcymmerai
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Clears
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Ishmael
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | E.H. Stephens* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trelech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | 525 | |||
| Independent | J.E. Jones | 295 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trimsaran
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Gomer Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Westfa and Glyn
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | 1,256 | |||
| Independent Labour | I.J. Haries | 428 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Whitland
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
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. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes in each case).