Day 046 - 04 Nov 94 - Page 69


     
     1        out of your cross-examination:  You were asked, I do not
     2        know whether it was yesterday or the day before, about
     3        McDonald's charitable activities, its community projects.
     4        You were asked by his Lordship whether really what you were
     5        saying was that these things come primarily from McDonald's
     6        heart, because that is part of McDonald's personae, I think
     7        was the word you used, do you remember saying that?
     8        A.  Yes, I do.
     9
    10   Q.   You did not see that as being incongruous with your
    11        commercial interests?
    12        A.  No, it is not, but it is just what we like to do and
    13        what we enjoy doing as well.
    14
    15   Q.   What I wondered was this:  Does the corporation have a
    16        view, so far as you are aware, about how those activities
    17        affect your workforce?
    18        A.  Well, I think that, obviously, if you are working for a
    19        caring company, and the company shows it in communication
    20        with the communities that you work on, that that, in fact,
    21        is something that your employees would like as well.
    22
    23   Q.   When one of these projects is undertaken, whether it be by
    24        local franchisees or whether it be on a wider regional or
    25        national basis, do the employees have to give or do they
    26        give of their time in -----
    27        A.  Well, many employees give of their time and effort not
    28        only to ronald mcdonald Children's Charities, but to many
    29        community groups or many community efforts.  It is part of
    30        the culture of McDonald's.
    31
    32   Q.   Looked at from the point of view of your overall commercial
    33        interests as a trading corporation, do you see that as a
    34        useful or a deleterious use of the employees' time?
    35        A.  I think it is a useful use of employees' time.  If they
    36        are able to get some satisfaction out of it, it means that
    37        they will be happy at their work.  Again, it is just part
    38        of the culture that McDonald's stands for.
    39
    40   Q.   Now I want to come to something, perhaps, a little nearer
    41        to the heart of the reasons why you are here, Mr. Green.
    42        It has been put to you in a number of ways over the last
    43        three days that the effect of your advertising to children
    44        is to brain-wash them into buying or getting their parents
    45        to buy your stuff so that you can make a fast buck, to put
    46        it crudely.  Do you remember that suggestion being made?
    47        A.  Something similar to that.
    48
    49   Q.   We can give you the exact reference.  The word "brain-wash"
    50        was certainly used, so were the words "hidden agenda", do 
    51        you remember that? 
    52        A.  Yes. 
    53
    54   Q.   What I want to ask you is this:  If there were a general
    55        wave, continuous wave, of discontent amongst parents of
    56        children who go to McDonald's in the United States, would
    57        you and your department be aware of it, do you think?
    58        A.  Absolutely.
    59
    60   Q.   You told us, I think, that you do get complaints by letter,

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