How to deal problems in current autoconf version of M4 macros

[Giulio Paci]

Hi to all,
        some time ago I converted a project (http://code.google.com/p/mitlm/)
build system from a simple Makefile to autoconf+automake.

The project needs a fortran compiler. Unfortunately the fortran.m4 file
shipped with autoconf 2.68 seems not to work on many current OSes (my
own, just to give an example). After investigating a little bit I
provided a patch for autoconf that was included in the development tree.

Time has passed, the last autoconf release is still 2.68, users keeps
complaining and it is difficult to setup a system that is suitable to
create a proper configure script.

My question is: is there any easy/clear way to include a patched
fortran.m4 file within the project and use that version only if autoconf
version is less than 2.69? Is there a more elegant fix to that?

Bests,
        Giulio.