DESERT TRANSPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19825, 30 December 1938, Page 14

DESERT TRANSPORT

BAGDAD TO DAMASCUS N.z. MEN’S ENTERPRISE The latest developments in the desert passenger service from Baghdad to Damascus, pioneered and, still maintained by two New Zealand brothers, Messrs. G. and N. Nairn, were described by Mr. G. Naim, who arrived at Auckland by the Monterey. Mr. Nairn, who is accompanied by his wife, has come to see his sons, who are being educated in New Zea land. It is his first visit for five years. The principal vehicles now on the desert service are stainless steel 18passenger Pulman trailer and tractor units. They are air-conditioned and cover the 550-mile journey between Damascus and Bagdad in 16 houis They cost £IO,OOO each. While in the United States of America Mr. Nairn ordered engines for two Diesel-driven 12-seatcj vehicles lor a night service. The bodies are being built in trance. Ihe company is now using exclusively Diesel-driven vehicles ns it has been found that recent improvements in the engines of this type make them by far the be.-4 power unit for the service. It is planned to introduce in 1940 air-conditioned sleepers accommodating 28 persons in 12 sleeping berths and 16 Pullman chairs. They will contain dressing-rooms and buffet, and will carry 11. tons of luggage. Mr. Nairn said that though air service competition! over the route was very keen, traffic had not been adversely affected. Because of the introduction of air-conditioned dustproof cars, first-class traffic had been fully held, and last year 16,000 passengers were transported. The development of oil in Arabia had meant increased business. Though tho company sends four services a week to Palestine, no trouble lias been experienced as a result of disturbances in that country. The route has been altered to run from Damascus along the coast through Beirut and Haifa to avoid the more troubled area through Tiberias and Nazareth. Cars making the trips were not armed, but protection was provided by British armoured cars which patrolled the route. The run from Baghdad to Damascus was now perfectly s/ile and raids by Arabs and similar difficulties with which they had to contend in the early days of the service were now things of the past.