1898 Carmarthenshire County Council election

1898 Carmarthenshire County Council election

← 1895
1901 →

All 68 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Liberal Conservative Liberal Unionist
Last election 53/68 13/68 1/68
Seats before 53/68 13/68 1/68
Seats won 51/68 15/68 1/68
Councillors 37 12 1
Aldermen 14 3 0
Seats +/– Decrease2 Increase2 Decrease0

  Fourth party
 
Party Independent
Last election 1/68
Seats before 1/68
Seats won 1/68
Councillors 1
Aldermen 0
Seats +/– Decreaseo

Council control after election

Liberal
Liberal Party

The fourth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1898.[1] It was preceded by the 1895 election and followed by the 1901 election.

Overview of the result

[edit]

The Liberal Party once again retained a strong majority.

Candidates

[edit]

42 candidates were returned unopposed, with only nine seats being contested, and several of these were between rival Liberal candidates. This was the highest number of uncontested seats since the council was created. Fourteen of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election

Of the retiring aldermen, only Gwilym Evans, former chairman of the council, sought election. He had been defeated for a Llanelli ward in 1892 but was now returned unopposed for a different ward.

Outcome

[edit]

Although the number of contested elections was small, a number of wards were keenly contested.

There were notable Liberal victories at Caio, where Sir James Hills-Johnes was defeated, and at Pembrey, where W.J. Buckley lost to the Liberal candidate David Evans. Buckley had been a member since 1889 and was parliamentary candidate for West Carmarthenshire.

The Conservatives, in turn, gained ground by winning a number of seats including St Clears and Llanboidy. In Llanelli, John Allen Williams, editor of the Llanelly Guardian, was returned unopposed as a Liberal Unionist.

Seven of the aldermanic seats were occupied by Liberals with the newly elected aldermen including Sir James Hills-Johnes and John Williams, both of whom had been defeated at the polls. Two Conservatives were elected as aldermen, a net gan of one on the aldermanic bench.

Ward results

[edit]

Abergwili

[edit]
Abergwili 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Lloyd* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bettws

[edit]
Bettws 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Nathaniel Jones* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Caio

[edit]
Caio 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal T. Francis Jones 217
Conservative Sir James Hills-Johnes* 201
Majority 16 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative T.E. Brigstocke Unopposed
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James John Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Professor D.E. Jones* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cenarth

[edit]
Cenarth 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Davies 258
Liberal D.D. Walters 163
Majority 95
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Cilycwm

[edit]
Cilycwm 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Conwil

[edit]
Conwil 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Kidwelly

[edit]
Kidwelly 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alfred Stephens Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Laugharne

[edit]
Laugharne 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John D. Morse* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanarthney

[edit]
Llanarthney 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Jones-Davies* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanboidy

[edit]
Llanboidy 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Thomas 298
Liberal Thomas Evans* 248
Majority 50
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Llandebie

[edit]
Llandebie 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal
Liberal hold Swing

Llandilo Rural

[edit]
Llandilo Rural 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Jones* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

[edit]
Llandilo Urban 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J.W. Gwynne Hughes* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandovery

[edit]
Llandovery 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Powell Jeffreys* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llanedy

[edit]
Llanedy 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ll. Thomas* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanegwad

[edit]
Llanegwad 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division.1

[edit]
Llanelly Division.1 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist J. Allen Williams unopposed
Liberal Unionist gain from Conservative Swing

Llanelly Division 2

[edit]
Llanelly Division 2 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Mayberry* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 3

[edit]
Llanelly Division.3 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William David unopposed
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Llanelly Division 4

[edit]
Llanelly Division 4 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev Thomas Johns* Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold

Llanelly Division 5

[edit]
Llanelly Division 5 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D.C. Parry* 222
Liberal D. Rees Edmunds 114
Majority 108
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 6

[edit]
Llanelly Division 6 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Phillips* 147
Liberal T. Williams 135
Liberal J. Auckland 102
Majority 12
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7

[edit]
Llanelly Division 7 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 8

[edit]
Llanelly Division 8 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Williams* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Berwick

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Owen Bonville* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David John* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gwilym Evans** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

[edit]
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Viscount Emlyn* Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

[edit]
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Rees Jones unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llangadock

[edit]
Llangadock 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Davies unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llangeler

[edit]
Llangeler 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colonel W.P. Lewes unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llangendeirne

[edit]
Llangendeirne 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Jenkins 159
Liberal John Jenkins 126
Majority 33
Liberal hold Swing

Llangennech

[edit]
Llangennech 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llangunnor

[edit]
Llangunnor 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal C.E. Morris* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanon

[edit]
Llanon 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morgan Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llansawel

[edit]
Llansawel 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold

Llanstephan

[edit]
Llanstephan 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Johns 177
Liberal D.W. Lewis 114
William Williams 80
Majority 63
Liberal hold Swing

Llanybyther

[edit]
Llanybyther 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Mothvey

[edit]
Mothvey 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pembrey North

[edit]
Pembrey North 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Evans 336
Liberal Unionist W.J. Buckley* 213
Majority 123
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing

Pembrey South

[edit]
Pembrey South 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W.S. Marsh* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Quarter Bach

[edit]
Quarter Bach 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr Howell Rees* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

[edit]
Rhydcymmerai 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

St Clears

[edit]
St Clears 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr R.L. Thomas 253
Liberal John Williams* 246
Majority 7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

St Ishmael

[edit]
St Ishmael 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Lloyd Thomas* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Trelech

[edit]
Trelech 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Phillips* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Whitland

[edit]
Whitland 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev William Thomas* unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Election of Aldermen

[edit]

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, the following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.[2]

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:

  • J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative (retiring alderman) 43
  • John Lewis, Meirios Hall, Liberal (retiring alderman) 42
  • D.L. Jones, Derlwyn, Liberal (retiring alderman) 42
  • R.W. Stephens, Coedybrain, Liberal (retiring alderman) 41
  • David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal (retiring alderman)38

In addition, the following four new aldermen were elected:

  • Rev. William Davies, Llandilo, Liberal 38
  • James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative (defeated candidate at Caio) 35
  • Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal (elected member for Whitland) 38
  • John Williams, Llanginning, Liberal 35 (defeated candidate at St Clears)

One retiring alderman was elected as councillor but not re-elected as alderman:

  • Gwilym Evans, Liberal

Two aldermen were not re-elected

  • J. Bagnall Evans, Liberal
  • Robert Scourfield, Llansteffan, Liberal

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Results". Carmarthen Journal. 11 March 1898.
  2. ^ "Carmarthenshire". Cardiff Times. 19 March 1898. p. 7. Retrieved 3 November 2016.