1949 Neath Rural District Council election

An election to the Neath Rural District Council in West Glamorgan, Wales was held in May 1949. It was preceded by the 1946 election, and followed by the 1952 election.[1]

Overview of the results

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The election resulted in relatively few changes in personnel as Labour comfortably upheld its majority.[1]

Candidates

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Seven Labour candidates were returned unopposed, including the father of the council, William Jones, who had represented Baglan Higher since 1919. Once again the party contested nearly all the seats on the authority.[1]

The main opposition came from various Independent candidates and there were also a small number of Communist candidates in addition to David Davies who defended the seat he had won at the previous election.

Outcome

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The main focus of interest was in the Coedffranc (Skewen) ward where two sitting councillors were defeated, namely the outgoing Labour chairman William Davies and long-serving Independent Mary Elizabeth (Bessie) Davies. Bessie Davies had originally been elected as a Labour councillor, before being elected as Independent Labour in 1937. In 1946 she stood as an Independent and a few weeks earlier had unsuccessfully sought election to Glamorgan County Council.

Ward Results

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Baglan Higher (one seat)

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Baglan Higher 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (one seats)

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Blaengwrach 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Albert Vowles* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan (three seats)

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Blaenrhonddan 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.T. Evans* 1,211
Independent Daniel Jones* 995
Labour Albert John 892
Labour Albert Mansel Davies 862
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Clyne (one seats)

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Clyne 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas G. Allen* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc (five seats)

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Coedffranc 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William David 2,259
Labour Thomas Rees* 1,933
Independent George Frost* 1,684
Independent Amy Jones* 1,387
Labour Isaac Evans 1,366
Labour William Davies* 1,301
Independent Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,293
Labour David J. Williams 914
Labour Mary Cossins 806
Independent Hedley Thomas 591
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

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Dyffryn Clydach 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Alun C. Thomas* 583
Independent Gwyn Thomas 468
Labour William John Griffiths 442
Labour John Evans 402
Communist hold Swing
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist William John Davies* 760
Labour Emlyn Jones 442
Majority 318
Communist hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

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Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Joseph Smith 1,042
Labour Edith Jones* 854
Independent William Morris 635
Communist David Davies 254
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

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Dulais Lower 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.S. George* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

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Michaelstone Higher 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patrick Boyle 369
Independent Labour David Davies* 297
Majority 72
Labour gain from Independent Labour Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

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Neath Higher 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Blodwen May Jones* 1,679
Labour Richard Arthur* 1,596
Labour Joseph James Lunn* 1,196
Independent Lewis Cynlais Adams 1,007
Communist Evan G. Williams 409
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

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Neath Lower 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Samuel Burnard* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat)

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Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward John Ateyo* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Resolven Ward 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Hull* 937
Labour Richard Geary* 775
Independent Richard V. Morgan 738
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rees Morgan Smith* 613
Labour Iorwerth Williams* 491
Labour Herbert Stephens 382
Labour Herbert Stephens 382
Communist Howell Williams 169
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat)

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Resolven, Tonna Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gethin Thomas* 606
Independent William George Johns 498
Majority 108
Labour hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Skewen Provides Election Surprises. Two Old Members Defeated". Neath Guardian. 13 May 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
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