Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 50
1 would it have been the amount would have increased?
2 A. Well, the balance tonnage changes every year. I would
3 just say the regularity that we would have access to
4 balance sheet beef every year. That was my thought at the
5 time. I would hasten to add, that does not have to be
6 Brazilian beef. Balance sheet can be Brazilian, Australian
7 or New Zealand or Argentinian.
8
9 Q. You must have been a bit upset after all those years of
10 efforts that it finished?
11 A. Yes, but you get used to that in commerce, do you not?
12
13 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I was going to say, do you get upset about
14 anything at work?
15 A. You get used to it.
16
17 MR. MORRIS: The balance sheet -----
18
19 MR. JUSTICE BELL: May I just ask you -- if you just cannot say,
20 please say so -- would you have gone after the Brazilian
21 beef in the first place if you had known that there was
22 some McDonald's policy or purported policy?
23 A. No, subsequently, when I knew the background, it would
24 have to have been "no" to Brazilian beef, even though it
25 was from Barretos and was miles from the rainforest. I
26 mean, even I could see politically it was too dangerous.
27
28 Q. So, it just would not have been worth the candle?
29 A. It would not have been worth it. I think that has
30 rather been proved today, sir. In terms of the tonnage of
31 meat that we use, it was an experiment which was nothing.
32
33 MR. MORRIS: You said that your access to the balance sheet beef
34 ended because of competition?
35 A. Yes.
36
37 Q. Did the balance sheet beef scheme continue?
38 A. Yes.
39
40 Q. It is now it has not been in operation this year. It will
41 not be in operation in 1995. It was not in operation in
42 1994. There was sufficient manufacturing meat within the
43 economic union, but the forecasts are that for 86, 87, 88
44 (sic) balance sheet will come back.
45
46 Q. But in the 80s it continued, the balance sheet beef scheme
47 after you ----
48 A. Yes, after we came out.
49
50 Q. Other companies were stilling getting ----
51 A. Yes.
52
53 Q. Were they still getting the Vesty beef?
54 A. I do not know.
55
56 Q. You never asked ----
57 A. Well, no -----
58
59 Q. --- Vesty's?
60 A. You do not know that. If you are given a licence all
