ABSTRACT
the most comprehensive intervention of the State in industrial relations is where the State becomes the employer and is responsible for the operation of an undertaking or industry. Thus in a nationalized industry, whether controlled by a Government department or by a public corporation or board responsible to a minister under conditions defined by legislation, the Government is in effect the employer of labour. In the event of a dispute or clash of interests it can no longer “hold the ring,” it is in the ring as one of the contestants. It cannot stand aside while the combatants fight to a finish, as it may do in a conflict in private industry, or intervene as an independent and impartial party to try to effect a settlement by conciliation or arbitration. It cannot be judge in its own cause. It must therefore be specially vigilant to prevent serious clashes, and where they arise it must make every effort to secure a fair and reasonable settlement by negotiation. It has, however, a responsibility to other nationalized industries and to private industries, and would be open to criticism if it used its resources to accede to demands which involved favouring one industry in ways which would be unfair to others.
