Day 006 - 05 Jul 94 - Page 36


     
     1        personally?
              A.  Well, I know the effect he had on my own children.
     2
         Q.   Yes, but I am talking about a large stastical survey.
     3        A.  Well, I don't think mine are all that unusual.
 
     4   Q.   You do not know the effect it has on children?
              A.  I know the effect it had on my children.
     5
 
     6        Q.   Apart from your children?
              A.  I think they're pretty typical kids, or they were when
     7        they were of Ronald ----
 
     8   Q.   Not in terms of McDonald's, surely not, because their
              father has been an important person at McDonald's since
     9        the age of 16?
              A.  I do not want to argue with you about it.
    10
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have opened this up this line of
    11        question when there was absolutely no evidence really from
              this witness as to effect one way or the other and we have
    12        got a section of the case where that is presumably or may
              be looked into to some extent.
    13
         MR. MORRIS:  Yes, but Mr. Preston is aware of the motivation of
    14        the company in bringing this action and what statements in
              the leaflet are defamatory and he represents the corporate
    15        view.
 
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
 
    17   MR. MORRIS:  I am trying to identify it from him so when later
              on it comes up, people might say, "Well, I am just doing
    18        my job in the company, I am not in charge of the policy"
              or something, we can say, you can say, well, you had a
    19        chance to speak to Mr. Preston on that who represents the
              company policy.  Obviously everybody in the company
    20        represents company policy to some extent.
 
    21   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am not going to stop you, but all I
              suggest is, if you have a particular point to make then
    22        put that to Mr. Preston.
 
    23   MR. MORRIS:  Would it be fair to say that although you do not
              know what happens with the reports his views will be taken
    24        into consideration?
              A.  I will say it one more time. I am not sure what
    25        conversation takes place between he and the local people.
              I am sure something must take place, if there was anything 
    26        they were concerned about I am quite confident corrective 
              action would be taken, if it was rally serious, it would 
    27        be brought up further up the hierarchy to regional
              managers or chief operating officers or myself- in all my
    28        years at McDonald's in Britain I have never ever attended
              a breakdown formal after the Ronald appearance discussion
    29        with Ronald or other people. I just have not done it.
 
    30   Q.   But although you do not know any circumstances, if he did
              have a view on something like that you would take it

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