16 SEPTEMBER 1966, Page 14

Sia,—John Rowan Wilson has fallen for the Min- istry of

Health ploy in thinking that the doctors' pay award has been backdated. It hasn't.

Briefly, the award was from April 1, 1966. It was frozen for six months in March, conforming with the freeze. It was then to take effect on October 1, 1966. If one is therefore paid three months in arrears, one's pay check is due on January 1, 1967. For administrative reasons, the cheques are sent out on December 31, 1966. If they are dated December 31, 1966 and not January 1, 1967, this does not constitute backdating—except by a Ministry that having broken faith is anxious to show it is bending over backwards to help.