autoconf errors

[Linux for blind general discussion]

 trying to compile hamlib, a program to control radios, on x86/64 ubuntu 16.
configure was not in the src; ran autoconf and got the following:

configure.ac:35: error: possibly undefined macro: AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE       If this token and others are legitimate, please use m4_pattern_allow.       See the Autoconf documentation. configure.ac:92: error: possibly undefined macro: AM_CONDITIONAL configure.ac:111: error: possibly undefined macro: AM_PROG_CC_C_O configure.ac:301: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_MSG_ERROR configure.ac:515: error: possibly undefined macro: AM_PATH_PYTHON configure.ac:529: error: possibly undefined macro: AM_PYTHON_CHECK_VERSION root at Laggy:/usr/local/src/hamlib# 

What should I do now?
I am doing this as root.
Thanks.