An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1919. It was preceded by the 1913 election and followed by the 1922 election.
Overview of the result
The elections were less politicised than in the pre-war era, with more candidates being elected without any declared political affiliations. The non-political nature of the contests was emphasized by the traditionally Conservative Carmarthen Journal, which had long opposed the politicized nature of local authority elections. Other publications, however, included political affiliations in their coverage of the results.
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes.
Unopposed returns
22 of the 53 divisions were uncontested, with the majority of the unopposed returns being in the rural parts of the county.
Contested elections
A greater proportion of the sitting members were challenged than had been the case in most pre-war contests and a number of prominent members were defeated including Mervyn Peel, former Conservative candidate for East Carmarthenshire, at Llangadog. In Carmarthen, the Rev. Andrew Fuller Mills was defeated by an ex-serviceman.
In Llanelli, D.C. Parry, a Liberal member of the Council since its formation, was defeated by Gwendoline Trubshaw, who received the support of the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers' and Sailors' Association.
Other contests in Llanelli town and in the surrounding areas saw significant support for the Labour party, which captured a number of seats, building on the strong result achieved by Dr J.H. Williams at the General Election the previous year.
In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below in relation to individual ward contests where relevant.
Retiring aldermen
The aldermen who retired at the election were
Ward results
Abergwili
Ammanford
Bettws
Caio
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanboidy
Llandebie
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban Lord Dynevor captured the seat previously held by J. Towyn Jones MP.
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division 1
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 6 In pre-war contests, Joseph Roberts had stood as a Labour candidate.
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Rural, Berwick
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn
Llanfihangel Aberbythick Thomas Thomas received the support of the Trades and Labour Council. However, he was regarded as a Liberal candidate in most quarters.
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadock
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Mothvey
Pembrey North
Pembrey South
Quarter Bach
Rhydcymmerai
St Clears
St Ishmael
Trelech
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.
The following aldermen stood down at the election. None of them stood at the election and were re-elected at the statutory meeting. Labour councillor Dr J.H. Williams gave notice that he would propose that, in future, all aldermen should seek re-election to the Council before retaining their seats on the aldermanic bench.
Rev William Davies, Llandeilo David Evans, Whitland William Griffiths, Llanelli Thomas Jones, Llanelli W.N. Jones, Ammanford Rev E.B. Lloyd, Bwlchnewydd John Lloyd, Abegwili James Phillips, St Clears J. Lloyd Thomas, Feryside
References