Day 197 - 07 Dec 95 - Page 04

     
       1      obviously, I would go for a drink with and that type of
       2      thing.  I was too friendly with them for the management
       3      style that they wanted me to adopt.
       4
       5 Q.   We will try to keep this as brief as possible.
       6
       7 MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I would do; I am very conscious that I have
       8      not counted them up in detail, but there must be about
       9      nine witnesses on both sides in relation to Colchester and
      10      if the Plaintiffs have leave to call additional witnesses,
      11      we are going to be at least a dozen -- I have a grip of
      12      the main issues and any judge, I hope, is intellectually
      13      honest in looking at the more refined points, but does to
      14      some extent rely upon the impression made by witnesses and
      15      the general feel of the whole evidence.
      16
      17      So, once you have got the main points from your witness,
      18      we can get on so we get through all the witnesses with as
      19      much expedition as possible.  So you need not feel
      20      insecure about missing some point of detail which, at the
         end of the day, may or may not help.
      22
      23 MR. MORRIS:  It may make this much quicker if I can just ask
      24      the witness to note something without asking him to
      25      comment, and then I can ask him a question:  "Bearing in
      26      mind all those things that you have noted, have you any
      27      comment?"  Do you see what I am saying, rather than asking
      28      him for each particular ----
      29
      30 MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Take your own course, but bear in mind what
      31      I have said.  Try to relax a bit about whether you may be
      32      letting some detail pass or not.
      33
      34 MR. MORRIS:  Just on page 15 at the top, can we note that the
      35      first sentence:  "Over the last month I have seen and been
      36      advised that your attitude is a credit to the store and
      37      the Company.  I believe this has been through goals and
      38      objectives set by Mark Davis".  This was the view of Frank
      39      Stanton, yes?
      40      A.  That is correct, yes.
      41
      42 Q.   17, at the top, the last line of the first incomplete
      43      paragraph:  "You should be aware that by saving a half per
      44      cent here and a 10th of a per cent there, the overall
      45      decrease in expenditure will be significant".  Is that
      46      always the Company's position, as far as you know?
      47      A.  Always under pressure to actually make that little bit
      48      extra, push it that little bit more.
      49
      50 Q.   In that same page under the word:  "General", "I have
      51      found your willingness not only to accept a change of
      52      Supervisor, but also a change in methods and opinions, 
      53      healthy and conducive to a good, strong team situation in
      54      the store".  What was he saying there?
      55      A.  Well, basically, my willingness to actually do what
      56      was expected and carry out tasks I was ordered to do or
      57      asked to do or told to do, sort of towing the line that
      58      they wanted to go.
      59
      60 Q.   Did that willingness to tow the line, as you said,