 He was also chairman of Glyncorrwg UDC from 1908 to 1916.He became secretary of the Western Miners' Association in 1906, and chief agent of the Afan Valley Miners' Federation.At the 1922 general election he was elected as Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Neath, defeating John Hugh Edwards, the sitting Liberal member for the seat by over 8,000 votes.