Error on make distcheck with current cvs

[Brian Gough]

Definitely recommend sticking with the versions mentioned in the
HACKING file.  Whenever I have tried other combinations I have got
caught with various problems.  

"A known working combination is automake 1.7.5 autoconf 2.57 libtool 1.4.3"

I am waiting before I try newer versions---there is currently a
problem that a C++ compiler gets required, which I believe they are
going to fix.