CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" for the John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund (the sole fund
contained in the John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund) in the John
Hancock Tax-Free Income Fund Prospectus and "Independent Auditors" and
"Financial Statements" in the John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund Class
A, Class B, and Class C Shares Statement of Additional Information and to the
incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment Number 24 to Registration
Statement (Form N-1A, No. 33-31675) of our report dated October 4, 2002 on the
financial statements and financial highlights in the Annual Report to the
Shareholders of John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund for the year ended
August 31, 2002.





                                                            /s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                                            --------------------



Boston, Massachusetts
December 20, 2002