Day 061 - 05 Dec 94 - Page 51


     
     1        Mr. Gregory has certainly never made us aware that there is
     2        a problem.
     3
     4   Q.   The government would not have any obligation to tell you
     5        that your suppliers were not complying with the
     6        regulations, would they, or the codes of practice?
     7        A.  Their obligation is to the supplier, and I am sure that
     8        they could assert tremendous influence over a supplier like
     9        Sun Valley if they were not conforming to the regulations
    10        on an ongoing basis.
    11
    12   Q.   Yes, but they would hardly be likely to contact every
    13        company that was supplied by Sun Valley, would they?
    14        A.  No, I am sure they would not, but I would not have
    15        thought that would be necessary.
    16
    17   Q.   So how would you get to know about the problems ---
    18        A.  Well, I do not think we would ---
    19
    20   Q.   -- that are on the farms?
    21        A.  -- because I do not think there is one ongoing.  We
    22        would certainly not get to know because there is nothing to
    23        get to know, I do not think.  Mr. Gregory may have said
    24        that he has found that at a point in time that Sun Valley
    25        were over stocking.  I am sure he told them about it and
    26        I am sure they have corrected it.  So, why is there now a
    27        need to come back to McDonald's and say:  "Sun Valley have
    28        a problem"?
    29
    30   Q.   So, as far as McDonald's is concerned, you bury your heads
    31        in the sand and just assume that there is no problem?
    32        A.  Of course not.
    33
    34   Q.   You do not bother to check for yourself?
    35        A.  No, we do not check ourselves but we do not need to.
    36        We would know if there was -----
    37
    38   Q.   You do not need to because you assume that there is nothing
    39        wrong?
    40        A.  We would know if there was something wrong.
    41
    42   Q.   How would you know if you do not make the checks?
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We have been through this now.  You have put
    45        your point to the witness.
    46
    47   MR. MORRIS:  You said that you will not purchase from a company
    48        if they do not conform to the codes of practice?
    49        A.  Consistently.
    50 
    51   Q.   Consistently, you did not say that yesterday or whenever it 
    52        was, last week? 
    53        A.  But that is a fact.
    54
    55   Q.   So if they breach codes of practice from time to time that
    56        does not bother you?
    57        A.  No, that would be consistent, I think, from time to
    58        time.  I think if they breached codes of practice on an odd
    59        occasion, then they deserve to be told and should have the
    60        opportunity to put that right.

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