Day 261 - 12 Jun 96 - Page 16

     
     1        twice, or something, it was the people that were there
     2        regularly that would be influential?  You know, we had this
     3        question earlier on.
     4        A.  Well, it is -- yes.  It is a facet of human nature; if
     5        somebody just turns up once, they are not likely to have
     6        much influence on people that go regularly.
     7
     8   Q.   People would be concerned about specific things.  Some of
     9        them might come along regularly and be, you know, concerned
    10        about, for example, the International Monetary Fund or
    11        something, and that would be their area of influence; that
    12        would be something they would bring up regularly; and other
    13        people might be bringing up local Animal Rights pickets or
    14        something?  Is that the impression you got, that
    15        people -----
    16        A.  No, that is not the impression I got.
    17
    18   Q.   That people had, if you like, spheres of influence where
    19        this is something that they particularly interested in?
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   And other times they might fall asleep while someone is
    23        talking about something else?
    24        A.  Individuals obviously had -- many of the individuals
    25        had an interest in a particular field, yes.
    26
    27   Q.   So, that would be their kind of sphere of influence within
    28        the meetings, that if people wanted to know about certain
    29        subjects, that would be the person who be expected to know
    30        about ---
    31        A.  Yes.  I must -----
    32
    33   Q.   -- be concerned about?
    34        A.  Yes.  But the meetings did not take place on the
    35        subjects that one particular person wanted to bring up.
    36
    37   Q.   No, I understand that.  But if there were five items on the
    38        agenda ---
    39        A.  Yes.
    40
    Q.   -- a particular person might be particularly concerned
    42        about one of those items ---
    43        A.  Oh, yes.
    44
    45   Q.   -- and be known as the person who would be concerned about
    46        that matter ---
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   -- and more likely to organise things about that?
    50        A.  Yes, indeed, yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   The meetings were very informal in that way? 
    53        A.  Very informal.
    54
    55   MS. STEEL:   Michelle Hooker -- were you aware that she was in a
    56        relationship with somebody in the group?
    57        A.  No.
    58
    59   Q.   When you were there, do you remember the disagreement about
    60        the Troops Out matter, or do you not remember any