WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 203, 31 August 1897, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

W Ellington, this day;- , The decision of Cabinet to postpone the publication of the report of bhe Private Benefit Societies' Commiseion until the meeting of Parliament has, in the absence of anything of a more engrossing political importance, been tho subject of not a little speculation recently. The reasons given for the postponement are various, it being held by some that the unexciting, almost uninteresting, nature of the roport is the chief cause for the postponement of its publication, while there are others who hold that the reason is .the,, direct opposite of thia. Bub little., cap. be> ascertained aa bo the tenor of the rep<j£t, and that little is of the vng.^e3b;descrip tiou. From a reliable source I am Informed thab the report is nob at all of a revolutionary or radical character, and that its chief point is its general indefiniteness. As to the Commissioners' opinions of the different sociotiee whoee affairs were investigated only general hints can be obtained as to some of bhe minor societies, while hardly anything at all can be obtained as to the larger ones, such ac the Union Company, that connected with bhe Bank of New Zealand, and the Chelsea Sugar Works Society. Of the smaller societies, and, speaking generally, it appears that the Commissioners have nothing but good to Bay, bub of bhe larger societies bhere are remote hints that the Commissioners have maderecommendabione urging certain necessary reforms. On the question of policy aa shadowed in their investigation the statement ia that the Commissioners have contented themselves with recommending the re-introduction of the Private Benefit Societies Biil of the session of 1596. These speculations have been gathered from various sources, but are mainly from reliable authorities. There is just a possibility, ib is said, that Cabinet may revoke its former decision respecting the publication of the report), bub as the opening of Parliament is now within measurable distance nob much would be gained by this. MR WARD'S ELECTION. The facts that the time within which a petition can be presented objecting to bhe election of a member to the House has almost elapaed ani that no petition has been circulated against the Hon, Ward's election are taken by many to be an indication that any movement in that direction has been abandoned.