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1910 Glamorgan County Council election

The 1910 Glamorgan County Council election was the eighth contest for seats on this local authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1907 election and followed by the 1913 election.

Overview of the result

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. The Conservatives made a further advance in the western part of the county where they also held on in a number of industrial wards where the influence of paternalism remained strong. A more striking factor was the advance of Labour candidates in several areas and there were also a number of Liberal members who were returned under a 'progressive' banner with support from the labour movement.

Boundary Changes

There were a number of boundary changes folloeing the secession of Merthyr Tydfil from Glamorgan to create a new County Borough. Eight new wards were created. These included those in the Barry Urban District (Cadoxton), Caerphilly (Aber Valley), Gelligaer Urban District (Hengoed), Maesteg, Mountain Ash Urban District,

Candidates

There were a number of unopposed returns and candidates identified as Liberals contested almost all seats. There were a significant number of Conseratives and relatively few Labour candidates. The political affiliation of some candidates was not noted.

All eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals, or Lib-Lab members as the Conservatives and their allies had been denied any seats on the aldermanic bench since 1901.

Outcome

Most seats were contested. In the western part of the county, industrialists standing as Conservatives continued to hold their found in some wards.

Aberdare, Mountain Ash and Merthyr districts

There were only two contested elections in the Aberdare district, and both were again more personal than political.

Bridgend and Maesteg districts

There were a number of contested elections in this area.

Swansea, Pontardawe and Port Talbot districts

In these areas the Conservatives again performed well, mainly at the expense of the Liberals.

Results by ward

Aber Valley

Aberaman

Aberavon

J.M. Smith held on to the seat he had held since 1889, increasing his majority over Labour. The result was said to have been greeted by a large crowd.

Abercynon

Boundary Change. The Labour candidate had entered the fray at the last moment causing a three-cornered contest in this new ward.

Aberdare Town

Bargoed

Barry

Barry Dock

Blaengwawr

In a contest between two Liberals, John Howell, first elected in 1895, was defeated by Gwilym Treharne who had opposed him on several occasions in the past.

Bridgend

Randall was again returned unopposed, with the Liberals deciding not to oppose him.

Briton Ferry

Cadoxton

Caerphilly

Boundary Change. The previous Caerphilly division was divided.

Cilfynydd

Coedffranc

Coity

Cowbridge

The sitting member, a timber merchant at Pendoylan, who had captured the seat three years previously, was now returned unopposed.

Cwmavon

Henry Davies held on to the seat he won in 1907.

Cymmer

Dinas Powys

The sitting member had held the seat for many years and was again returned.

Dulais Valley

Ferndale

Gadlys

Following the recent death of Griffith George, a fellow Liberal was elected in his place. There was no Labour candidate.

Garw Valley

Gelligaer

Glyncorrwg

Gower

Hengoed

In this new ward, long-serving alderman David Prosser was defeated.

Kibbor

Henry Lewis again returned after many years.

Llandaff

Robert Forrest held the seat comfortably.

Llandeilo Talybont

First elected in 1889, Rees Harries was again returned by a substantial majority.

Llansamlet

Llantrisant

Llwydcoed

Llwynypia and Clydach

Loughor and Penderry

John Glasbrook was elected unopposed following the retirement of Sir John Llewelyn.

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Vernon Hartshorn, miners agent was returned by a huge majority

Maesteg, East and West

This was a repeat of the contest three years previously with the same result.

Margam

Following the retirement of the Liberal member, the son of the former Independent councillor, defeated in 1904, won a narrow victory over Labour.

Morriston

Mountain Ash

Neath (North)

Neath (South)

Newcastle

Ogmore

The ward was renamed Porthcawl. In a close contest a prominent Liberal defeated the former Conservative councillor.

Ogmore Valley

Oystermouth

Penarth North

Penarth South

Penrhiwceiber

Pentre

Pontardawe

Pontlottyn

Pontypridd

Penygraig

Porth

Resolven

Sketty

Swansea Valley

Treforest

Treherbert

Treorchy

Trealaw and Tonypandy

Tylorstown

Ynyshir

Ystalyfera

Ystrad

Clifford Cory, the member since 1892, was once again returned unopposed.

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Boundary changes following the secession of Merthyr kept the number of councillors at 66 through the creation of additional wards. The number of aldermen therefore remained unchanged. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1910 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies rather than eleven owing to the resignation of John Davies, an alderman elected for a Merthyr ward.

The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.

elected for six years Thomas, W. M. David G. h- Fleming, Rhys 11 airies, Dd. Hughes G. J. Hughes, W. Jones, J. Jordan, Rhys Llew- ellyn, W. Llewellyn, W. H. Matthews, W. M. Williams, and Rev. D. H. Williams.

elected for three years

By-Elections

Aberdare Town by-election

William Thomas, High Constable of Miskin Higher, who had been nominated at the initial election but agreed to withdraw to prevent a split in the Liberal ranks was now returned unopposed.

Llwydcoed by-election

Harris, elected when Llewellyn was initially made an alderman, was again returned.

Notes

References

Bibliography