1937 Cardiganshire County Council election


The sixteenth election to Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election and, after those scheduled for 1940 and 1943 were postponed due to the Second World War, by the 1946 election.

Candidates

36 of the 50 councillors were returned unopposed and this resulted in fourteen contests, one fewer than three years previously Political affiliations did not feature in the election.

Retiring aldermen

Eight aldermen retired, of whom four sought election.

Contested elections

Following the fourteen contests, three retiring members were defeated while two retiring aldermen were defeated by incumbent councillors.

Outcome

Very little change took place as a result of an election in which only one sitting member lost his seat.

Results

Aberystwyth Division 5

Cwmrheidol

Llandygwydd

Llangeitho

Lledrod

Tregaron

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 50 councillors the council consisted of 16 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1937 election, there were eight aldermanic vacancies which were filled at the annual meeting. There was some controversy due to the fact that the principle did seniority was not observed in the selection of aldermen.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
  • Sir D.C. Roberts, Aberystwyth
  • R.J.R. Loxdale, Llanilar
  • J.G. Morris Davies, Devil's Bridge
  • E.J. Davies, New Quay
  • W.E. Matthews, Cardigan
In addition, the following four new aldermen were elected:
  • David Evans, Troeduraur
  • Meredydd Ll.G. Williams, Llanwenog
  • Rev John Ellis Williams, Llanddewi Brefi
The following retiring aldermen had been re-elected as members of the council but were not re-elected as aldermen:
  • R.D. Herbert, Lledrod
The five re-elected aldermen had served at least two previous terms while Meredith Gwarnant Williams had been an alderman from 1922 until 1928.

By-elections

Five by-elections were held following the election of aldermen. Morgan Davies was returned unopposed at Llanddewi Brefi as was the incumbent councillor at Llanilar, James Isaac, who had stood down in favour of Alderman Loxdale. New members were elected for the three other divisions, including Devil's Bridge where the veteran member T. Mason Jones, who had returned to the council in 1934 after fifteen years absence did not stand due to ill health.