Day 086 - 09 Feb 95 - Page 21


     
     1
     2   MR. MORRIS:  In other words, when he writes to all supervisors,
     3        seniors in the form of Nigel and Peter and all store
     4        managers -- sorry, when he writes to all store managers in
     5        the northern region saying:  "I have not been notified,
     6        please notify me", you are saying he is actually
     7        criticising Jill Barnes, are you, for not -----
     8        A.  No.
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He may or may not be criticising her.  We may
    11        find out.  But what he wants to do, regardless of it coming
    12        via other channels, is to know "immediately" is the word he
    13        uses.
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   So he wants to be told by them himself, whatever other
    17        course they take?
    18        A.  Yes, I think that would be fair.
    19
    20   Q.   That is what he is saying?
    21
    22   MR. MORRIS:  Is it important when there is, for example, severe
    23        shocks from faulty items of electrical equipment that they
    24        are speedily investigated?
    25        A.  Yes.
    26
    27   Q.   So the purpose of a memo like that, is it to ensure that
    28        this kind of accident does not occur, as far as humanly
    29        possible?
    30        A.  I think Frank Frost is expressing his concern over
    31        this.  I find it difficult -- there may well have been
    32        another system in operation where he did not need to be
    33        informed.  I cannot tell you or speculate about that.
    34
    35   Q.   How many memos does a store get in a week, overall?
    36        A.  I guess when I was out in the restaurants maybe 15
    37        different communications -- from Head Office, probably less
    38        than that actually.  Memos would come from their direct
    39        bosses on small matters, the region, from various
    40        departments.  The purchasing department may send you
    41        something on pricing.  There is a good flow of information
    42        that comes into the restaurants.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think, really, the memo speaks for itself.
    45        Mr. Frost may not be complaining at all that he has not got
    46        to hear about them.  What he wants to do is hear about them
    47        straightaway.
    48        A.  I think he wants to get involved in it.  He may be
    49        feels that it is his -----
    50 
    51   Q.   So he can, to use his words, instigate immediate 
    52        rectification? 
    53        A.  That is it.  His interest is the equipment, if it is
    54        the fault of the equipment.  Some electrocutions may not be
    55        the fault of the equipment so, such as .....
    56
    57   Q.   It is an unhappy state of affairs if someone gets an
    58        electric shock, he thinks, and the regional equipment
    59        manager is not told straightaway so he can look into it.
    60        That is what he is saying, is it not?

Prev Next Index