Mr. De la Bèreasked the Postmaster-General whether, in respect of the telephone service which is being opened with Malaya, through Java, with the permission of the Dutch Government, some facilities can be given for commencing the service at 6.30 a.m., which would enable London to talk with Malaya whilst their markets were in operation, as the proposed times during which the service is to operate are only from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Greenwich mean time, which would preclude this?
§ Major TryonThe radio-telephone service between Amsterdam and the Netherlands East Indies, over which calls between Great Britain and Malaya pass, is not opened until 9 a.m., Greenwich mean time. It would not, therefore, be possible to give service between Great Britain and Malaya from 6.30 a.m. unless the hour at which the Amsterdam service is opened were similarly advanced. I will communicate with the Netherlands Administration and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I hear whether they can arrange for an extension of the hours of service as desired.