CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" for the John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund in the John
Hancock Tax-Free Income Funds' Prospectus, and "Independent Auditors " in the
John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund Class A, Class B, and Class C
Shares Statement of Additional Information and to the inclusion in
Post-Effective Amendment Number 21 to Registration Statement (Form N-1A, No.
33-31675) of our report dated October 12, 2000.
/s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
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ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 22, 2000
