In the 1950s, when this photograph was taken of the Southern Cross about to leave a Wellington wharf, the flow of people between New Zealand and Europe was strong. Europe was the source of many new migrants, and with wages rising more people could afford to travel back and forth. The streamers stretching from the ship symbolised the parting that was about to take place. Rolls were thrown from ship to wharf; as the vessel pulled away the line stretching between those going and those staying would break.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)
Reference: EP/1955/0944
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.