Day 013 - 19 Jul 94 - Page 17


     
     1        Can you duly remember that or not?
              A.  I can remember we had a telephone conversation.  I can
     2        remember -- I cannot remember the exact date.  I have no
              reason to think this is incorrect.  It would be more
     3        likely than not, when dealing in this situation or in any
              other, to give a longer date than is necessary in order to
     4        account for all the problems we always went into in these
              matters.
     5
         MR. MORRIS:  I am just trying to make the point, Mr. Horwitz,
     6        in asking you that do you not think that from the date of
              publication, July 1st to October 3rd, three months
     7        indicates -- I do not know what I am asking actually.
 
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just think about it.  I need to understand
              what you are putting.  I think the way it was left
     9        yesterday that there was some kind -- it may not be in
              relation to this -- but the point was made that we cannot
    10        do things in three month time bites so far as publication
              is concerned.  That may have been on a different point.
    11        What is it you mean to put?
 
    12   MR. MORRIS:  I think that should be left for the summing up
              really.
    13
         MR. RAMPTON:  No, my Lord, it should not.  If Mr. Horwitz is
    14        the witness on this issue he is going back to America.  If
              there is a case to be put about some kind of alleged
    15        misconduct by McDonald's in this regard, it must be put to
              Mr. Horwitz so he can deal with it.
    16
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  There is another aspect as well.  Unless
    17        I understand where you are heading ----
 
    18   MR. MORRIS:  Right.  I can tell you what my case is -- I cannot
              speak for Ms Steel on this one because we have not
    19        discussed it, but it is absolutely clear to me that the
              national leaflet, which had July 1st publication date on
    20        it, was printed hurriedly to get ahead of the pack, when
              the Attorneys General were moving in for their national
    21        press statement.  In fact, although it said the
              distribution was to be completed by August 15th, they
    22        could later say they could not guarantee it would be
              completed until October 3rd.  McDonald's is quite capable
    23        of distributing a pamphlet which is available within four
              or five days to every store in the country if they want
    24        to.
 
    25        The point I am making is it took a hell of a long time to
              distribute this pamphlet which you say you always planned 
    26        to do months and months before even the Attorneys General 
              ever contacted you, is that correct? 
    27        A.  Planning and thinking and revising drafts and coming
              to a final draft which is then printed takes a long time.
    28        Printing these things, once a decision is made, takes a
              long time and distribution does not normally go to the
    29        stores in three or four days, as you suggested.  I guess
              it is physically possible by using courier, but it is not
    30        economically possible.  Cheaper ways are done -- are used,
              excuse me.

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