The 1913 Glamorgan County Council election was the ninth contest for seats on this local authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1910 election and followed, due to the First World War, by the 1919 election.
As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. The Conservatives made some impact, as did the Labour Party, although in case of the latter there was no sign of a breakthrough.
There were no boundary changes at this election.
49 of the 66 councilors were returned unopposed.[1] Only a small number of those seats that were contested changed hands. In many areas, contests between Liberal and Labour candidates were avoided and the Progressive label widely adopted. The Conservatives gained two seats at Llandeilo Talybont and Llansamlet while Labour lost at both Cwmavon and Ystalyfera. This was counterbalanced by a Labour victory at Pontardawe.[2]
All eight members were returned unopposed in the Aberdare Valley and no Labour candidates entered the fray.[3]
There were a number of contested elections in this area.
In these areas the Conservatives again performed well, mainly at the expense of the Liberals.
Randall was again returned unopposed, with the Liberals deciding not to oppose him.
Boundary Change. The previous Caerphilly division was divided.
In this new ward, long-serving alderman David Prosser was defeated.
Henry Lewis again returned after many years.
Robert Forrest held the seat comfortably.
James Evans, grocer, elected following Richard Lewis's election as alderman in 1901, was returned unopposed.
This was a repeat of the contest three years previously with the same result.
Having run as an Independent in 1910, narrowly defeating the Labour candidate, the sitting member was returned as a Conservative.
T.J. Hughes, vice-chairman of the county council was returned unopposed.
The ward was renamed Porthcawl. In a close contest a prominent Liberal defeated the former Conservative councillor.
Alderman William Llewellyn was again returned unopposed.
E.T. Davies, auctioneer, had been elected at a by-election following Elias Henry Davies's appointment as alderman in 1902. He was now returned unopposed.
Penygraig appears to be a new ward.
Enoch Davies, returned in 1901 following William Morgan's re-election as alderman, was elected unopposed.
Thomas Jones, Co-operative stores manager, was returned unopposed.
D.W. Davies, the member since 1898, was returned unopposed for the second successive election.
Sitting councillor Dr T.H. Morris stood down to allow Alderman W.H. Mathias to be returned unopposed.
Clifford Cory, the member since 1892, was once again returned unopposed.
In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Boundary changes following the secession of Merthyr kept the number of councillors at 66 through the creation of additional wards. The number of aldermen therefore remained unchanged. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1910 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies rather than eleven owing to the resignation of John Davies, an alderman elected for a Merthyr ward.
The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.
elected for six yearsThomas, W. M. DavidG. h- Fleming, Rhys 11 airies, Dd. Hughes G. J. Hughes, W. Jones, J. Jordan, Rhys Llew- ellyn, W. Llewellyn, W. H. Matthews, W. M. Williams, and Rev. D. H. Williams.
elected for three years
The following by-elections were held following the election of aldermen.