1934 Neath Rural District Council election

An election to the Neath Rural District Council in Wales was held in March 1934. It was preceded by the 1931 election and was followed by the 1937 election.[1]

Overview of the results

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Labour won control of the authority for the first time, winning sixteen seats as opposed to thirteen for the Independents.

Boundary changes

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Ystradfellte ward was removed to Breconshire, reducing the number of councillors from 31 to 29.[2] This rural ward had long been represented by Independent councillors who were usually returned unopposed.

Candidates

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All seats were contested apart from Tonmawr, where the longest serving Labour member, William Jones, was returned unopposed, and Clyne, which was also taken without opposition by Labour. Most of the other seats saw Labour candidates face Independent nominees, with a small number of Independent Labour and Communist candidates.[2]

Outcome

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Having won a majority for the first time, Labour councillors moved swiftly to impose their authority. Independent councillors had for the past six years denied Labour any significant roles within the council, so this was taken as a reason for Labour to reverse this position. William Jones, Tonmawr, the senior Labour councillor on the authority, who had been proposed many times as chairman, without success, was elected by fifteen votes to thirteen, with John James of Crynant elected vice-chairman by a similar margin.[3]

Ward Results

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Baglan Higher (one seat)

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Baglan Higher 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (one seat)

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Blaengwrach 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Albert Vowles 226
Independent Rosser Jenkins* 134
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Blaenrhonddan (three seats)

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Blaenrhonddan 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.T. Evans* 975
Independent Edward Bowen 641
Independent Llew Jones* 514
Labour William R. Griffiths 472
Labour Albert John 374
Independent John Morgan 349
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Clyne (one seat)

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Clyne 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles R. Kimber Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc (five seats)

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Coedffranc 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ogley Lewis David* 1,881
Independent Isaac David 1,831
Independent Amy Jones* 1,830
Labour David Jenkins* 1,739
Labour Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,378
Independent Thomas Lloyd* 1,239
Independent W.T.A. Macamara 906
Labour David Thomas 891
Labour Thomas Lovering 802
Labour Isaac William Evans 599
Independent Mary Jane Reid 593
Independent Labour Philip Evans 393
Independent John Harris Evans 359
Independent Labour Christopher Jones 328
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

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Dyffryn Clydach 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Thomas* 353
Independent David Williams 330
Independent Labour Percy Cantle 285
Labour A.T. Rogers 237
Independent Labour Ben Jones 233
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Jeffreys* 367
Labour Jenkin Morgan 263
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James* 605
Independent J.T. Lewis 293
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

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Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Jones* 697
Independent W.P. Harries 539
Labour George Adams 436
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

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Dulais Lower 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.S. George 169
Independent Morgan Thomas Richards 109
Independent Llewellyn Davies 104
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

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Michaelstone Higher 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.J. Lewis* 305
Independent H.W. Crouch 147
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

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Neath Higher 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Morgan Morgan* 925
Independent David Arthur* 878
Labour Cliff Protheroe* 863
Labour R.H. Taylor 654
Communist E. Williams 247
Communist W.J. Jones 90
Communist T. Williams 89
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

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Neath Lower 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Samuel Burnard* 174
Independent T.D. Herbert 90
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat)

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Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Trevor Lewis* 351
Independent R.H. Snook 52
Communist Edward Sherlock 23
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Resolven Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.J.Evans* 657
Labour Fred Thomas* 651
Independent Benjamin Jones 474
Labour R. Geary 349
Independent A. Howell 121
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent R.M. Smith* 348
Independent James Evans* 338
Labour T. Williams 268
Communist R.J. Douglas 66
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat)

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Resolven, Tonna Ward 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.G. Harrington* 386
Labour William Thomas 301
Majority
Independent hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Neath Rural Election Results. Socialists Win Through". Neath Guardian. 29 March 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Neath Rural "General" Election. Socialists Fight for Majority". Neath Guardian. 16 March 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Neath Socialiats Use Their Majority. Tonmawr Man New Chairman of R.D.C." Neath Guardian. 20 April 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2022.