Day 166 - 28 Sep 95 - Page 33


     
     1
     2   MS. STEEL:   It was actually because I had not understood what
     3        the witness had said.
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, I just want to understand that I
     6        have understood what Mr. Atkinson is saying.
     7
     8   MR. MORRIS:  On these documents, the budget document, the two
     9        pages one, they are all in the 15 per cents, are they not,
    10        except for three 14 per cent plus and the rest are in the
    11        15 per cent plus?
    12        A.  Yes.
    13
    14   Q.   Yes.  The overall effect was 15.39 per cent was the budget
    15        for labour costs?
    16        A.  That is right -- as a guide.
    17
    18   Q.   Yes, which rounded to the nearest percentage is 15 per
    19        cent, is it not?
    20
    21   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I can work that out for myself.
    22
    23   MR. MORRIS:  When people were chatting amongst themselves they
    24        would not say:  "Hey, we have got to get 15.39 per cent
    25        this year", it would be 15 per cent is roughly what it is
    26        all about, is it not?
    27
    28   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Did people say that?  You see, you have
    29        assumed it and you really must ask because I want
    30        information.
    31
    32   MR. MORRIS:  I am asking it as a question.  When people were
    33        chit-chatting, managers were chit-chatting amongst
    34        themselves, did they quote decimal points to each other in
    35        every day conversation that might be overheard by crew
    36        members or would they say:  "Well, it is 15 per cent".
    37
    38   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Mr. Morris, I do not even know whether they
    39        talked about percentage for crew payroll.
    40
    41   MR. MORRIS:  He did say he talked about it with the managers.
    42
    43   THE WITNESS:  The point I was trying to make is that the store
    44        would run at what it runs at.
    45
    46   MR. MORRIS:  Yes, but when you were talking about it?
    47        A.  No, I would not say it has to run at 15 per cent.  I
    48        mean, I have worked in other stores where it is lower.
    49
    50   Q.   No, but when you were chatting with other ----- 
    51 
    52   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, I do wish Mr. Morris would let the 
    53        witness answer the question.  He said -- Mr. Morris was not
    54        listening -- "No, we did not talk in those terms".  He
    55        said:  "What is more, I worked in other stores".  If
    56        Mr. Morris would just restrain himself, the witness might
    57        be allowed to answer.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:  He said in other stores the figure was lower.
    60        (To the witness):  But, I mean, in terms of this particular

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