Day 246 - 09 May 96 - Page 16


     
     1        Strategy", and again it is undated.  It has as its goal,
     2         "For McDonald's to be perceived as a truthful and ethical
     3        company whose policies and actions are in the best
     4        interests of the public and the environment".
     5
     6        Were you involved in this decision that this was to be the
     7        goal?
     8        A.  No, I was not in involved in the discussions.  I have
     9        only had one goal in the whole exercise:  establish the
    10        truth.  That is all I have ever said, and that is all
    11        I really care to say about it.
    12
    13   Q.   So that is the goal for this trial.  This goal that is down
    14        on the paper, is that the goal in terms of what you want to
    15        put over to the media; is that right?
    16        A.  Well, we are talking here about the best interests of
    17        the public, the environment, I assume the media must be a
    18        vehicle, but I would certainly want my company to be
    19        perceived by the public as truthful and honest and doing
    20        the right things.  I think any businessman who said
    21        anything else would be very foolish.
    22
    23   Q.   If you want your company to be perceived as the truthful
    24        and ethical company, would it not be important to get your
    25        facts straight before you print 300,000 leaflets to be
    26        distributed throughout the country in your stores?
    27        A.  I believe our facts are straight.
    28
    29   Q.   We went through that the other day and you agreed that you
    30        had got it wrong in relation to ----
    31        A.  No.  I am sorry, I did not.  I commented on one element
    32        of a document where I apologised.  I said:  "I am sorry, a
    33        mistake was made, an honest mistake, it was certainly no
    34        intent".  I stand by that.
    35
    36   Q.   Is the reality, Mr. Preston, that basically when McDonald's
    37        is criticised, you jump up and say, "It is not true.  Our
    38        critics are liars", without bothering to check whether or
    39        not it is true?
    40        A.  It is not so, simply not so.
    41
    42   Q.   When you get caught out having told something that was
    43        untrue, to say the least, you stone-wall and deny that it
    44        is lies, or untrue?
    45        A.  Ms. Steel, if I have made a mistake, or my company has
    46        made a mistake, I will stand up and admit it.  If I have
    47        not done so, if I have acted correctly and properly, I will
    48        fight my corner.  But if I have made an error I will say
    49        it.  I will admit it.
    50 
    51   Q.   So when you realised that you had made an error in all 
    52        these press releases you sent out to the media, and all the 
    53        leaflets that you distributed country-wide in all your
    54        stores, you wrote to them, did you, telling them there was
    55        an error and urging them to bring it to the attention of
    56        customers and to the public generally?
    57        A.  No, I do not think so.
    58
    59   Q.   No.  In fact you are still distributing those press
    60        releases and leaflets which contain errors by your own

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