Labour was defending a secure majority in an election that was more bitterly fought than in previous year, in the wake of divisions persisting after the General Strike and lockout of 1926. Non-Labour candidates largely coalesced under an Independent banner but lost further ground as Labour won additional seats
Boundary Changes
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Candidates
20 candidates were returned unopposed, only five won whom were Labour.[1]
Following the death of Dr T.H. Morris (Rhondda) there were ten retiring aldermen, nine of whom sought re-election. The only exception was Thomas Luther Davies (Aberaman).
Contested Elections
The pattern of contests was similar to 1925, although Labour did challenge some long-serving aldermen including W.R. Davies (first elected in 1898) at Cilfynydd and Enoch Davies in the Rhondda. In the Garw Valley ward, retiring alderman Rev. William Saunders was opposed by the sitting Independent councillor as was Alderman D.T. Williams in the Swansea Valley ward.
Outcome
Labour gained a number of seats, increasing their majority on the County Council.[2]
A notable result in the Dulais Valley was the defeat of coal owner Daniel Daniels, former chairman of the Council, by Labour candidate Gwilym Davies. Daniels had not been re-elected as an alderman three years previously and the result came after a series of disputes in the mining industry.
In the Cilfynydd ward, Labour candidate Arthur Pearson defeated Alderman W.R. Davies, first elected to the council in 1898. Labour had won the seat in 1919 but in 1922 stood down to allow Davies to be returned unopposed. The decision to oppose him reflected the increasingly partisan politics of the mining valleys and Davies was narrowly defeated.
A similar situation arose in Treherbert, a seat won for Labour by D.E. Williams in 1919. Williams stood down in favour of Alderman Enoch Davies in 1922 but having been returned unopposed in 1925 he stood against Davies and was returned by several hundred votes. Enoch Davies had served as a member of the Council since 1901, and was a prominent tradesman and nonconformist.[3]
Labour lost only two seats, at Penygraig in the Rhondda and also Pontardawe.[4] The latter was significant as it was also represented by Alderman Dan Dai Davies, jailed for his role in the anthracite strike and disturbances of 1925. Labour consolidated their majorities in many others, including seats gained three years previously.
In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1928 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents.[5]
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
Hubert Jenkins (Lab, Cwm Aber)
Rev William Saunders (Lab, Garw Valley)
David Thomas Williams (Lab, Swansea Valley)
In addition, the following seven new aldermen were elected:
J.D. Brazell (Lab, Ystalyfera)
Jabez Davies (Lab, Rhondda)
Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy)
William Hammond (Lab, Pontlottyn)
W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail)
E.H. Mole (Lab, Newcastle)
Enoch Treharne (Lab, Rhondda)
David Watts-Morgan MP (Lab, Rhondda)
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected as members of the Council but were not re-elected as aldermen:
Hopkin Morgan (Lib, Neath)
Enoch Davies (Lib, Rhondda)
James Evans (Lib, Rhondda)
By-elections
Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.
Following the election of David Watts-Morgan as alderman the by-election was won by the Independent candidate. Mrs Chalke was married to R.D. Chalke, headmaster of Porth Grammar School and the prospective Liberal candidate for Rhondda East, when he was due to oppose Watts-Morgan.[6]
Jonathan Maddocks, the sitting Independent councillor, had been defeated by Alderman William Saunders at the regular election, and was again defeated by a Labour candidate.
Following the re-election of D.T. Williams as alderman, Richard Thomas, who had held the seat since 1922 but failed to hold on against Williams, regained the seat as an Independent.
Following the election of J.D. Brazell as alderman, Daniel T. Jones of Cwmllynfell, who had held the seat from 1919 until 1922 was elected as his successor.
