U Series - Middle East Nairn Transport Service Pts 1-5

A report by New Zealand Broadcasting Service commentator Arch Curry and talk by Norman Nairn, about the Nairn Transport Service which has connected Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut since 1923.

A four day trial of the Baghdad - Damascus service was made in 1923 with American tourists. Until that date the only transport available between these centres was by camel.

New Zealanders 2nd Lieut. Norman and Mess Orderly Gerry Nairn were demobilised in Egypt from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force after the end of World War I. They established a transport service in Beirut with a taxi service to Haifa.

The Nairns now use air-conditioned, dust-proof, 80 foot-long bus tractor-trailers, each the size of a railway carriage, with its own buffet and refrigerator. There are plans for new, tractorless units. Curry describes the passengers and the departure of a unit and then hands over to Norman Nairn who talks about the history of the operation which he and his brother Gerry have established.

Norman Nairn then talks about the problems which had to be overcome in setting up a desert transport service. It is now possible to travel from Damascus to Baghdad overnight in dust-free comfort.

He talks about the complications of running a company which operates in several countries and employs staff of eight different nationalities.

He explains the impact of the current war on their operations.