Notes on Paper.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 August 1910, Page 4

Notes on Paper.

DURABLE PAPER MADE NOW.

A too-oft repeated fallacy us coinbatted pretty plainly by the Printing Tradie News. The statement lias been oft repeated that in these modern days it was almost impossible to get paper that was fit to be used in permanent records, and that Government records the world ovei were crumbling to pieces solely because of the ladrof paper that would last. Now it is announced that the "Governments of the world are seeking for a paper of permanent durability," or, as it is stated by some, for an indestructible paper. Of course there is no such thing as an indestructibe paper, and has never been. It is not at all likolj that there ever mill be.'

The cold fact of the matter is that there is now as durable paper as there ever was, and if one wants to pay the price Jie can get ii. Another cc'ld fact is that, as a rule, the Governments of the world care more for a low price than for good quality, and a marked and perhaps extreme example of this was wihen, a number of years ago, a contract was awarded for bond paper at 7d a pound on a sample that sells in the market at more than double that figure. The trouble is not with the paper. It is the unwillingness to pay the price "that is the foundation fault. The expectation and aim of the Government is to buy a eoori -paper at half its value, and, as always happens, that expectation is never realised. Paper to-day is better than it ev°j was. It is more adapted to fh wark required, of it. Not only is it made better, but it is made dhean t and one has only to pay the propei price to get what he wants in the way oi paper, as a .rule. Of course, one who expects to put important records on a sheet made in the main from ground wood, and expects it to entirefor all time, will be disappointed at the results.