S.L Toilet Paper ‘Not Perforated’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 10

S.L Toilet Paper ‘Not Perforated’

Difficulties resulting from the introduction of new,

“stretchy” paper appear to be responsible for the absence of perforations in Christchurch toilet tissue, complained of by a reader of “The Press.” In a letter to the editor, she said she was not in the habit of writing .to newspapers. but “a thing had happened” which prompted her to do so.

“The manufacturers of toilet paper have ceased to perforate it," she said. “There has been no explanation; still less, any apology by the manufacturers and, I believe, no reduction in price. It may seem a small matter, but it is definitely annoying.” The managing director of Caxton Printing Works, Ltd., Mr B. Spencer, of Auckland, said by telephone yesterday that his firm made all the toilet paper rolls in New Zealand.

In the North Island, where his company had spent millions of pounds on automated plant in the last two years, all rolls were perfectly perforated. But, because of import licensing difficulties, it had not yet been possible to import new machines, costing

f 60,000 each, for South Island production.

With the new type of soft, “stretchy” crepe paper used, perforations on the older machines, such as those used in the Blenheim road factory, of the company, could be “very much a hit-and-miss affair.” “The stretchy paper sinks away from the knives in the older machines,” said Mr Spencer. He said that if rolls

of toilet paper had appeared on the Christchurch market without perforations, it was by accident and not by intent.