Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 37

     
     1        mind that the beef came from the area around Barretos and
     2        not from the far distant north.  That was the brief I went
     3        with.
     4
     5   Q.   So when Lord Vesty says that and, presumably, you hard that
     6        it came from within about 1,000 kilometres, is that a
     7        reasonable distance for the transport of beef?  You would
     8        not expect it to go above that distance?  It would be
     9        unreasonable; what is your position on that?
    10        A.  I think 1,000 kilometres is a long way for beef.
    11        I mean, I think that the thousand kilometres comes into the
    12        equation because if you just look at Barretos and you look
    13        at the area of pampas, I mean, you know, just with a sweep
    14        say: "Well, there is a thousand kilometres radius to the
    15        beef area".  I mean, you do understand there is more than
    16        one beef plant there?
    17
    18   Q.   Yes.
    19        A.  In that area.
    20
    MS. STEEL:   There is more than one beef plant in that area --
    22        sorry, in Brazil or was it more than one beef plant where,
    23        in the area around Barretos; is that what you are saying?
    24        A.  Yes, in that rough area.  I mean, there is a beef plant
    25        in San Paulo.
    26
    27   Q.   Right.  Is that a Vesty plant as well?
    28        A.  No.
    29
    30   Q.   No, are there any Vesty plants elsewhere in Brazil?
    31        A.  Not operational.
    32
    33   Q.   Were there 10 years ago or at that time?
    34        A.  I do not think so.
    35
    36   Q.   You do not think so but you are not sure?
    37        A.  I am pretty sure but, you know, it is a long time since
    38        I left the Vesty Organisation.  It is from common sense or
    39        common knowledge.
    40
    Q.   You left Vesty's in 1962; is that right?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   Did you have no involvement with them after that until you
    45        were trying to import their beef in 1983?
    46        A.  If I understand the way you are asking that question,
    47        I had no involvement.  In my capacity in McKey over the
    48        whole period and, previously, in Robert Wilson's, I would
    49        be buying beef from Weddels.  I knew Peter Bartram and Ian
    50        Kelly extremely well over a number of years. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Robert will Wilson's, was that the one you were at before 
    53        you went to McKey?
    54        A.  To McKey, yes.
    55
    56   Q.   So the beef you were buying from Weddels before then for
    57        McKey was that consistently from 1980 to 1983?
    58        A.  Could you say that again, please?
    59
    60   Q.   McKey's opened in 1980; is that right?