CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" for Liberty Special Fund, formerly, Crabbe Huson Special Fund, (one
of the series comprising Liberty Funds Trust III) in the Liberty Special Fund
Class Z Shares Prospectus and "Independent Auditors" and "Financial Statements"
in the Liberty Funds Trust III Statement of Additional Information and to the
incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment Number 117 to the
Registration Statement (Form N-1A, No. 2-15184) of our report dated December 10,
1999 on the financial statements and financial highlights of Liberty Special
Fund included in the Crabbe Huson Funds Annual Report dated October 31, 1999.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 20, 2000
