Film or fibre is made from a polymer of water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomeric material that includes ionic monomer by extrusion and stretching, and a counterionic lubricant compound is absorbed into the surface of the fibre or film before or during the stretching. The counterionic lubricant compound is also of use for providing a lubricated film on other extruded or comminuted elements of water swellable or water soluble polymeric material.