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.
