Matthews was elected as a Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency) at a by-election in 1919 following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams.
Matthews was a strong supporter of the premiership of David Lloyd George[1] and regarded himself as something of a Welsh nationalist.
In 1920 he was one of a group of Welsh MPs who called on the prime minister to create the post of Secretary of State for Wales but Lloyd George apparently urged them to fight for greater devolution instead.
However, in February 1921 Matthews attempted to introduce a Bill to institute the post of Welsh Secretary but without success.
[2] At the time of his election to Parliament, Matthews was a leading member of the civic community in Swansea.