1904 Carmarthenshire County Council election

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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 54/68 12/68 1/68 Seats before 54/68 12/68 1/68 Seats won 59/68 7/68 2/68 Councillors 41 7 2 Aldermen 17 0 0 Seats +/– 5 5 1   Fourth party   Party Independent Last election 1/68 Seats before 1/68 Seats won 0/68 Councillors 0 Aldermen 0 Seats +/– 1
Council control after election Liberal Liberal Party

The sixth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1904.^[1] It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election.

Overview of the result

The Liberals retained a strong majority with a majority of members returned unopposed.^[2] From the outset the election was dominated by the debate over the implementation of the 1902 Education Act, which was fiercely opposed by the radical wing of the Welsh Liberal Party.

Candidates

The election was fought on more explicitly political lines, largely as a result of the way the education question dominated the election. Following the nominations, the Liberals already had a majority due to the number of candidates returned unopposed.^[3] These included all eight candidates in the Llanelli Urban area, including Joseph Roberts, who was returned unopposed, with the support of the local Trades and Labour Council, for the division previously represented by the veteran tinplate leader, Tom Phillips, who retired due to ill health.^{[3][n 1]}

Two sitting members, Col. J.W. Gwynne Hughes of Tregib, chairman of the council and his kinsman, Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy, stood as Unionists due to the education question.

Only six of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. None of the retiring aldermen stood as candidates.

Outcome

There were a number of changes. At Laugharne, J.D. Morse, the member since 1889, was defeated by a Conservative while the Liberals captured seats from the Conservatives at Carmarthen, Llandovery and St Clears. Colonel Gwynne Huighes of Glancothy was defeated by a Liberal at Llanegwad.

The Liberals took all nine of the vacant aldermanic seats, with both J.S. Tregoining and Sir James Hills-Johnes receiving small numbers of votes.

Abergwili

Bettws

Caio

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Cenarth

Cilycwm

Conwil

Kidwelly

Laugharne

Llanarthney

Llanboidy

David Thomas had been elected as a Conservative in 1901.

Llandebie

Llandilo Rural

William Jones had been elected as an Independent at previous elections.

Llandilo Urban

Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal.

Llandovery

Llanedy

Llanegwad

Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal and failed to defend the seat as an Unionist.

Llanelly Division.1

Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llangadock

Llangeler

Llangendeirne

Llangennech

Llangunnor

Llanon

Llansawel

Llanstephan

Llanybyther

Williams was one of two Liberal candidates in 1901 when both polled the same number of votes and Williams lost on the toss of a coin.

Mothvey

Pembrey North

Pembrey South

This ward was not recorded in the local press.

Quarter Bach

Rhydcymmerai

St Clears

Dr Thomas had sat as a Conservative but was said to have fought this election as a 'radical'.

St Ishmael

Trelech

Whitland

Election of aldermen

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 nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:

• John Williams, retiring alderman (47)
• John Lewis, retiring alderman (45)
• D.L. Jones, retiring alderman (42)
• R.W. Stephens, retiring alderman (48)
• John Rees, retiring alderman (42)
• Rev William Davies, retiring alderman (42)

In addition, two new aldermen were elected:

• W.N. Jones, elected member for Betws (46)
• Thomas Jones, elected member for Llanelli Ward 7 (42)
• Rev Thomas Johns, elected member for Llanelli Ward 4 (42

Four retiring aldermen were not re-elected:

• J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative
• Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal
• David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal
• James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative

All the elected aldermen were supported by the majority of members.^[4]

By-elections between 1904 and 1907

Betws by-election 1904

A by-election was held on 23 April due to the elevation of W.N. Jones to the aldermanic bench. The Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, consented to stand after two public meetings at Ammanford and in Cwmamman and was expected to be returned unopposed. However, he was opposed by David John Jones, an Ammanford ironmonger and a prominent Congregationalist, who refused to withdraw. After a contest between two Liberals which involved the local MP, Abel Thomas, Towyn Jones was elected by a relatively comfortable majority.^[5]