pkg/51943: Please update the dpkg port to a currently supported series

[guillem%debian.org@localhost]

>Number:         51943
>Category:       pkg
>Synopsis:       Please update the dpkg port to a currently supported series
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       low
>Responsible:    pkg-manager
>State:          open
>Class:          change-request
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Sat Feb 04 13:05:01 +0000 2017
>Originator:     Guillem Jover
>Release:        HEAD
>Organization:
Debian
>Environment:
>Description:
The dpkg 1.16.x series has been EOLed matching the Debian release cycle. It would be nice if the dpkg package could be updated to a supported series, ideally 1.18.x which is the current development series that is getting frozen right now.

Also because in 1.18.x, I've fixed many portability issues. For example the tar patch is now unneeded as it can be selected at configure time.

Currently NetBSD is one of few the downstreams lagging behind, and I'd like to avoid that! <https://wiki.debian.org/Teams/Dpkg/Downstream> :)
>How-To-Repeat:

>Fix: