It's not often that we ask people to gaze at butts on our regular street polls, but this time we had a timely purpose to pose the question.
Yesterday two Times-Age staff, with Wairarapa DHB smokefree co-ordinator Linda Spence and communications adviser Jill Stringer quizzed Masterton residents about how many cigarette
butts were in a jar presented to them _ and what they thought of the Smokefree Coalition's goal to stub out smoking in New Zealand by 2020.
The little jar has been butting in to local businesses and meetings across the region in the lead-up to World Smokefree Day on May 31.
''We're encouraging people to think about how much it costs to smoke,'' Ms Spence said.
''Over 20 years, it's almost $100,000 if they smoke a packet a day. This little jar contains butts picked up from around the hospital.
''The Smokefree Network is inviting people to guess how many butts it contains _ and the prize is a dollar a butt.''
The jar has an interesting itinerary planned _ including a trip to Featherston on the train, a visit to an antenatal class, and a game of hockey at the Clareville turf.
It's also been invited to pay a visit to several secondary schools, medical centres and businesses.
If you'd like it to visit your meeting, social event or workplace, phone Ms Spence on 027 687 8693, or Ms Stringer on 027 273 1154.
''There's no strings attached,'' Ms Spence said. ''We just send some quit support information with the butt jar for anyone who wants it. The competition is open to everyone and we hope the butt jar starts some good discussions.''
