Day 217 - 09 02 96 - Page 68

 
 

                                                                  DAY 217
 
 
 
 
 
     1
     2   Q.   I see, certainly.  So, a wise meat merchant would allow a
     3        margin of safety and perhaps put his specification a few
     4        degrees below the conventional 7; is that right?
     5        A.  Well, from the meat merchant's point of view, there are
     6        many considerations.  He has to consider the economics of
     7        it as well.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  All you are saying is that when you say 7 is
    10        political, it is a compromise and it is a balance between
    11        absolute safety and practical economics as well, and that
    12        is where, for better or worse, the line has been struck?
    13        A.  Yes.
    14
    15   Q.   Do you mean any more than that?
    16        A.  No.  I find it a very acceptable standard.  I have no
    17        argument with it even from a professional point of view.
    18
    19   MR. RAMPTON:  I am just looking through Mr. Bone's statement to
    20        see if there is anything.  I do not think there is.
    21
    22        There is one question I ought to ask you.  You may have
    23        dealt with it last time in March, when you were here last
    24        year.  Did you ever see the thermometers that were used by
    25        the boning room supervisors and Mr. Bone for testing the
    26        temperature of the meat?
    27        A.  No.  Like I said, I think I said it last spring,
    28        I never saw them taking the temperatures.  The only time
    29        I saw anybody else with a thermometer was Mr. Bob Jarret at
    30        one stage when we were discussing the temperatures at the
    31        despatch bay, and he gave me his own thermometer and
    32        measured the same temperatures as me.  Otherwise I never
    33        saw anybody else.
    34
    35   Q.   Something has just occurred to me, and it may be completely
    36        futile.  Can you just tell us what was the kind of
    37        thermometer that you used?
    38        A.  I cannot remember the make of it, I am afraid, but it
    39        was a very standard thermometer that is used within the
    40        meat industry.
    41
    42   Q.   Where did you get it?
    43        A.  It was in the meat inspectors' -- OVS's room.
    44
    45   Q.   In the OVS's office?
    46        A.  Yes, that is right; and it belonged to the Kingswood
    47        Borough Council.
    48
    49   MR. RAMPTON:   My Lord, those are all the questions.
    50 
    51   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, thank you. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL:  Can I just have a moment to think?
    54
    55   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, certainly.  Sit down for a moment,
    56        Mrs. Hovi.  Take your time. (Pause)
    57
    58   MS. STEEL:  I do not think I actually need to ask anything.
    59
    60   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No.  Thank you.  Thank you for coming back,
 
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