The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election after the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election.
Overview Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.
Boundary changes There were no boundary changes at this election.
Candidates A significant number of Labour candidates were returned unopposed. A number of long-standing members stood down including the Reverend William Saunders, who was not selected as a Labour candidate and Gwilym Davies (Dulais Valley).
There was significant Communist opposition, particularly in the Rhondda where Labour had only narrowly retained the Rhondda West constituency at the previous year's General Election.
In Neath, it was originally reposed that long-serving councillor D.G. Davies, who had been a member of the county council with a few breaks for twenty-five years, would stand again. However, he ultimately stood down.
Nine of the retiring aldermen sought re-election, the exceptions being the Rev William Saunders and Edgar Chappell.
Outcome Labour retained their majority. In the Rhondda Valley, Labour withstood a Communist challenge This was the first county election for nine years as polling was reported as heavy in a number of wards, including the two contested wards at Pontypridd.
In the Neath area, Labour retained four seats but at Coedffranc the sitting member D.T. Jenkins was defeated by Communist Alun Thomas, a member of the Neath Rural council since 1937.
Results Aberaman
Aberavon
Abercynon
Aberdare Town
Bargoed
Barry Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Labour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate.
Barry Dock
Blaengwawr
Bridgend
Briton Ferry
Cadoxton
Caerphilly
Castell Coch
Cilfynydd
Coedffranc
Cowbridge
Cwm Aber
Cwmavon
Cymmer
Dinas Powys
Dulais Valley
Ferndale
Gadlys
Garw Valley
Glyncorrwg
Gower
Hengoed
Hopkinstown
Kibbor
Llandeilo Talybont
Llanfabon
Llwydcoed
Llwynypia
Loughor
Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon
Maesteg, East and West
Mountain Ash The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.
Neath (North)
Neath (South)
Newcastle
Ogmore Valley
Penarth North
Penarth South
Pencoed
Penrhiwceiber
Pentre
Penygraig
Pontardawe
Pontlottyn
Pontyclun
Pontypridd Town
Port Talbot East
Port Talbot West
Porth
Porthcawl
Swansea Valley
Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch
Trealaw
Treforest
Treherbert
Treorchy
Tylorstown
Vale of Neath
Ynyshir
Ystalyfera
Ystrad
Election of Aldermen In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1946 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents. Rhys Evans was the longest serving alderman, having first been elected in 1922.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected: Sidney Cadogan (Lab, Ystrad) W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower) Alfred Evans (Lab, Ferndale) Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy) Tom Evans (Lab, Pengam) Daniel T. Jones (Lab, Ystalyfera) W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail) Evan Phillips (Lab, Caerphilly) Rev W. Degwel Thomas (Lab, Neath)
The following new aldermen were elected: H.J. Cook (Lab, Penarth) Mervyn Payne (Lab, Pencoed)
By-elections Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen. At Neath, Charles P. Huins held his seat with a majority which exceeded that gained by Alderman Degwel Thomas at the triennial election.
Aberaman by-election
Neath South by-election
Llanfabon by-election
Tylorstown by-election
References
Bibliography