Abstract: Aqueous suspensions of papermaking fibres and filler are each separately treated with an anionic or a cationic polymer, after which the filler (preferably) or the papermaking fibre is treated with a polymer of opposite charge to that used in the initial treatment. The filler and papermaking suspensions are then mixed to form a papermaking stock, with dilution as necessary before, during or after the mixing operation. This stock is then used to form a loaded paper web in conventional manner. The initial treating polymer is preferably a papermaking retention aid or flocculant, e.g. a cationic polyarcylamide or an amine/amide/epichlorohydrin copolymer in the case of cationic materials or an anionic polyacrylamide in the case of anionic materials. The further treating polymer is preferably an anionic or cationic starch, depending on the charge of the initial treating polymer.