An election to the Neath Rural District Council in West Glamorgan, Wales was held on 1 April 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election, as no elections had been held in 1940 and 1943 due to the Second World War, and followed by the 1949 election.[1]

Overview of the results

Having won control of the authority for the first time in 1934, Labour consolidated their position by winning a number of additional seats across the area with the Independent group, which previously controlled the authority, reduced to only six members.[1]

Candidates

Labour, who had maintained a majority of seats on the Council since 1934, nominated almost a full slate of candidates; seven of whom were returned unpposed.[2]

A smaller number of Independent candidates stood than in previous years, although their number was boosted by Mary Elizabeth Davies, originally a Labour councillor at Coedffranc who had been elected as Independent Labour in 1937. She now stood as a non-party candidate. British Legion candidates contested both Coedffranc and Resolven. There were also a number of Communist candidates, including Alun Thomas who had recently taken the Coedffranc county council seat from Labour.

Outcome

The outcome of the election saw a mixed picture as Labour gained seats from the Independents, but the chairman of the Council Council, John James, was defeated at Onllwyn by a Communist candidate. Alun Thomas successfully defended his seat at Dyffryn Clydach, where Labour took the second seat an Independent. At Seven Sisters, Labour also gained a seat from the Independents, although Communist candidate Evan Lewis came within 64 votes of defeating the veteran Labour councillor, George Jones.[1]

A notable feature was the success of British Legion candidates at Coedffranc and Resolven. Significantly, the result at Coedffranc echoed a precedent in 1919 when an ex-serviceman was elected in the same ward.

Ward Results

Baglan Higher (one seat)

Baglan Higher 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (one seats)

Blaengwrach 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Albert Vowles* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan (three seats)

Blaenrhonddan 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.T. Evans* 1,188
Independent Daniel Jones 892
Labour Albert Mansel Davies 877
Labour William James Down 846
Labour hold Swing
Independent gain from Labour Swing
Labour hold Swing

Clyne (one seats)

Clyne 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas G. Allen Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc (five seats)

Coedffranc 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
British Legion George Frost 2,069
Independent Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,925
Independent Amy Jones* 1,877
Labour Thomas Rees 1,440
Labour William Davies* 1,334
Labour David Jenkins* 1,269
Labour D. Thomas 943
Trade Unionist H. Benyon 806
Labour H. Jones 783
Independent hold Swing
Independent gain from Independent Labour Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

Dyffryn Clydach 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Alun C. Thomas* 672
Labour Gwyn Davies 497
British Legion Henry Phillips 430
Independent David Williams* 247
Communist hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James* 505
Independent Daniel C. Williams 354
Majority 151
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist William John Davies 670
Labour John James* 540
Majority 130
Communist gain from Labour Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edith Jones 815
Labour George Jones* 707
Communist Evan Lewis 643
Independent William Morris 434
Independent W.P. Harries* 226
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

Dulais Lower 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.S. George* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

Michaelstone Higher 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Labour David Davies 279
Labour Patrick Boyle* 250
Communist David H. Griffiths 116
Majority 29
Independent Labour gain from Labour Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

Neath Higher 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Blodwen May Jones* 946
Independent Richard Arthur 935
Labour Joseph James Lunn* 668
Labour Lewis Cynlais Adams 594
Independent David Arthur* 535
Independent William Morgan Davies 497
Independent Ralph Vincent Morgan 474
Independent Aubrey Jenkins 438
Independent Clifford Harrett Harries 387
Communist Evan G. Williams 330
Independent Labour T. Challacombe 266
Independent William Henry Morris 126
Labour hold Swing
Independent gain from Independent Swing
Labour hold Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

Neath Lower 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Samuel Burnard* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward John Ateyo* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Resolven Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Geary* 930
British Legion T. Roberts 610
Labour Richard V. Morgan 585
Independent Benjamin Jones 430
Independent Griffith J. Thomas 240
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rees Morgan Smith* 509
Labour Iorwerth Williams 301
Labour Richard George Norman* 226
Independent Henry Walters 209
Independent William David Evans 196
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Tonna Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gethin Thomas* 622
Independent Rev D.J. Walters 401
Majority 221
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. 1 2 3 "R.D.C. Election Surprises. Seven Old Members Defeated". Neath Guardian. 5 April 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  2. "Neath Rural Election. Many Candidates Nominated". Neath Guardian. 22 March 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
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