John Emlyn Emlyn-Jones
Encyclopedia
John Emlyn Emlyn-Jones was a Welsh Liberal Party
politician and shipowner.
, France
, Spain
and Italy
before making his reputation in the shipping industry. In 1911 he went into partnership with E. Williams as shipowners. In 1915 he started on his own with a fleet of small coasting steamers using the experience he had gained while working in a shipping office in Bordeaux
. In 1920 he founded the Dragon Steam Ship Company to operate deep sea tramping routes. The affairs of his own enterprises took him all over the world on business and he was also a director of the Green Star Shipping Co, the Ocean Salvage and Towage Co and one time Chairman of the Cardiff Pilotage Authority.
In addition, Emlyn-Jones was one time President of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce
and was elected Chairman of the Cardiff and Bristol Channel Shipowners’ Association in 1931.
At the 1922 general election
, Emlyn-Jones was elected to Parliament
for the constituency of Dorset North and he retained the seat in 1923
. In a predominantly rural constituency, one of Emlyn-Jones’ concerns was to represent the interests of agricultural workers. During the first Labour
government, Emlyn-Jones pointed out how Labour, supported by the Conservative
opposition, was not standing up robustly enough for agricultural labourers by refusing to incorporate this group into a Minimum Wages Bill, which he attempted unsuccessfully to amend. However in the 1924 general election
it was the Conservatives under Stanley Baldwin
, who were mostly credibly able to make a national appeal to farm workers as the champions of rural England and Emlyn-Jones lost his seat to Conservative candidate, Cecil Hanbury.
. Instead he was adopted as candidate for Cardiff East
being well-known as a business man at the docks and as a resident of the constituency. He was reported as being a capable speaker and enthusiastic for the Liberal unemployment scheme which formed a central policy theme of the Liberal election campaign. In 1928 the party had produced a book entitled We Can Conquer Unemployment and promoted the policy vigorously even claiming that ‘within twelve months [of a Liberal government taking office] unemployment would be brought down to normal proportions’.
Emlyn-Jones fought Cardiff East again in 1931
, stating he was both a supporter of the National Government and a follower of Sir Herbert Samuel
. He accepted Ramsay Macdonald
’s manifesto in its entirety, stating that there must be national unity at a time of national emergency. He indicated he was willing to stand aside to avoid splitting the National vote, if the local Liberal and Conservative Associations decided jointly not to adopt him as the National candidate. But the Conservatives had already adopted South Wales barrister Owen Temple Morris and no accommodation between the parties can have been forthcoming as both Emlyn-Jones and Temple Morris contested the election with Temple Morris emerging the victor. Emlyn-Jones did not stand again at Cardiff in 1935
, which was probably just as well as the Liberal candidate, A Pile, lost his deposit
. However he was persuaded to contest the seat again at the 1945 general election
, when he came third. Emlyn –Jones also served as a Justice of the Peace
in Cardiff.
Instead he contested the
1935
as Liberal candidate at Flintshire, a seat that the party was defending. In a three-cornered contest, he came second as the Conservative gained the seat.
just outside Cardiff in the 1950 general election
. He also stood as Liberal candidate in the by-election at his father’s old seat of Dorset North in 1957 in a closer contest, coming second to the Tory, losing by 3,102 votes.
flight bound for Paris
from Nice
on the morning of 3 March 1952 but the plane got into trouble soon after take-off and tried to return to the airfield. It crashed into trees on hills outside Nice and burst into flames, killing 38 passengers and crew members.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and shipowner.
Education and shipping
Emlyn-Jones had a private education in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
before making his reputation in the shipping industry. In 1911 he went into partnership with E. Williams as shipowners. In 1915 he started on his own with a fleet of small coasting steamers using the experience he had gained while working in a shipping office in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. In 1920 he founded the Dragon Steam Ship Company to operate deep sea tramping routes. The affairs of his own enterprises took him all over the world on business and he was also a director of the Green Star Shipping Co, the Ocean Salvage and Towage Co and one time Chairman of the Cardiff Pilotage Authority.
In addition, Emlyn-Jones was one time President of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and was elected Chairman of the Cardiff and Bristol Channel Shipowners’ Association in 1931.
Politics
Emlyn-Jones held many offices in the Liberal Party including being Chairman of the Liberal Federation of Wales and President of the North Dorset Liberal Association.At the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, Emlyn-Jones was elected to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
for the constituency of Dorset North and he retained the seat in 1923
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. In a predominantly rural constituency, one of Emlyn-Jones’ concerns was to represent the interests of agricultural workers. During the first Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government, Emlyn-Jones pointed out how Labour, supported by the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
opposition, was not standing up robustly enough for agricultural labourers by refusing to incorporate this group into a Minimum Wages Bill, which he attempted unsuccessfully to amend. However in the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
it was the Conservatives under Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, who were mostly credibly able to make a national appeal to farm workers as the champions of rural England and Emlyn-Jones lost his seat to Conservative candidate, Cecil Hanbury.
Out of Parliament
Emlyn-Jones did not seek reselection for the Liberals at the 1929 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. Instead he was adopted as candidate for Cardiff East
Cardiff East (UK Parliament constituency)
Cardiff East was a parliamentary constituency in Cardiff which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
being well-known as a business man at the docks and as a resident of the constituency. He was reported as being a capable speaker and enthusiastic for the Liberal unemployment scheme which formed a central policy theme of the Liberal election campaign. In 1928 the party had produced a book entitled We Can Conquer Unemployment and promoted the policy vigorously even claiming that ‘within twelve months [of a Liberal government taking office] unemployment would be brought down to normal proportions’.
Emlyn-Jones fought Cardiff East again in 1931
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
, stating he was both a supporter of the National Government and a follower of Sir Herbert Samuel
Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...
. He accepted Ramsay Macdonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
’s manifesto in its entirety, stating that there must be national unity at a time of national emergency. He indicated he was willing to stand aside to avoid splitting the National vote, if the local Liberal and Conservative Associations decided jointly not to adopt him as the National candidate. But the Conservatives had already adopted South Wales barrister Owen Temple Morris and no accommodation between the parties can have been forthcoming as both Emlyn-Jones and Temple Morris contested the election with Temple Morris emerging the victor. Emlyn-Jones did not stand again at Cardiff in 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
, which was probably just as well as the Liberal candidate, A Pile, lost his deposit
Deposit (politics)
A deposit is a sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the right to stand for election to certain political offices, particularly seats in legislatures.-United Kingdom:...
. However he was persuaded to contest the seat again at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, when he came third. Emlyn –Jones also served as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Cardiff.
Instead he contested the
1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
as Liberal candidate at Flintshire, a seat that the party was defending. In a three-cornered contest, he came second as the Conservative gained the seat.
Like father like son
Emlyn-Jones was married and had one daughter Inez (b.1916) and one son, John Alun Emlyn-Jones (b. 1923) who was also a Liberal. He fought the seat of BarryBarry (UK Parliament constituency)
Barry was a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
just outside Cardiff in the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
. He also stood as Liberal candidate in the by-election at his father’s old seat of Dorset North in 1957 in a closer contest, coming second to the Tory, losing by 3,102 votes.
Death
Emlyn-Jones and his wife were victims of an air crash. They had boarded the Air FranceAir France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
flight bound for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
on the morning of 3 March 1952 but the plane got into trouble soon after take-off and tried to return to the airfield. It crashed into trees on hills outside Nice and burst into flames, killing 38 passengers and crew members.